Family beliefs a barrier to aged care health reform

New research by LSE's Joan Costa-i-Font shows that older people are avoiding taking out long-term care insurance, fearing their children will desert them in old age.

Beehive painting competition

As part of LSE Green Week (9-13 February), the LSESU Beekeeping Society is offering one of its beehives for painting!

Liz Chapman

Liz is about to retire from LSE, but before she does she shares memories of her time at the School and most importantly, her plans for retirement.

 News

 LSE in pictures

 Events

 Training and jobs

The second phase of a unique crowdsourcing project to get ordinary Britons to debate how their country should be governed will be launched at LSE this week.

Coinciding with the 800th anniversary of the Magna Carta, a 10-week internet project will give people a direct say in writing a proposed new UK constitution via an online forum that goes live this Thursday 15 January.

Spearheaded by LSE’s Institute of Public Affairs (IPA), the Constitution UK project will canvass opinion on 10 key issues including devolution, whether the UK should have a monarch, Head of State, abolish the House of Lords or exit the European Union.

New Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Civil Society

Dr Hakan Seckinelgin (pictured), Associate Professor (Reader) in International Social Policy, Department of Social Policy, is the new Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Civil Society.

The journal, which is published four times a year, has multidisciplinary focus that is interested in theoretical and empirical research on civil societies, their development and their interactions with the broader local and global societal processes.

Dr Hakan Seckinelgin is a visiting research fellow at CERI, Science Po in Paris from January to June 2015.
 

LSE's Space for Thought Literary Festival is now in its seventh year.

The festival theme is “foundations” so festival organiser Louise Gaskell takes a look back at LSE’s first “Literary Weekend” and at the evolution of this annual event.

Academics abroad

Professor Danny Quah (pictured), SEAC Director, spoke in Singapore on Thursday 8 January at the ISEAS Regional Outlook Forum, on how a possible China slowdown might affect the ASEAN Economies.

He concluded that the risks were balanced: what happens in ASEAN would depend on why exactly China's economy faltered. However, even should a slowdown occur, China could still offer a 50% proportional growth in market size compared to a decade ago.

As part of his research into interculturalism, Dr Hayo B.E.D. Krombach, Centre for Philosophy of Natural and Social Science (CPNSS), gave a lecture on 11 December 2014 entitled 'The Importance of Philosophical Dialogue in an Intercultural World' at the Nakamura Hajime Eastern Institute in Tokyo, to be published in Japan both in English and Japanese.

While in Japan on research, he also followed an impromptu invitation to attend an international symposium on 'Beyond Nationalism: peace-building and religion in Asia', jointly held on 20 December 2014 by the Sophia University and International Christian University in Tokyo.

In December professors Mary Kaldor (pictured) and Tim Allen, along with others from the Justice and Security Research Programme (JSRP) in International Development, convened a workshop at Gulu, northern Uganda, that brought together researchers from across the DFID-funded consortium to share their findings and learn from each other’s experiences.

The JSRP is undertaking work in research sites at the borders of Uganda, South Sudan and DRCongo. The workshop allowed the Africa-based teams to meet with senior JSRP staff from Europe and the US. For two of the Congolese researchers this was their first opportunity to travel outside their own country and they were particularly appreciative of the chance to engage in discussions with fellow researchers.

This January all staff email accounts will be migrated to Office 365, an email service which will include a 50GB mailbox.

Information Management and Technology (IMT) will be doing a phased migration to provide for adequate technical support should there be any issues/questions. We have already migrated all student mailboxes (end of 2013), and next week we will do a couple of departments before the School-wide roll-out.

Nominations are invited for the award of a Queen’s Honour (which include MBE, OBE, CBE etc). Do you know someone who has given outstanding service to the School (either as a member of staff or in a voluntary capacity) who in your opinion has:

• made a real impact on the School/our students
• gained the respect of their peers
• changed things for the better at the School
• demonstrated innovation or
• brought distinction to British life and enhanced its reputation through their work at the School?

A full explanation is given here but please bear in mind that awards channelled through the School should be for services to higher education, with particular reference to LSE. The deadline for receipt of suggestions is Wednesday 28 January.

LSEE - Research on South Eastern Europe (LSEE) welcomes applications for Visiting Fellows, Visiting Senior Fellows and Visiting Professors by academics or policy practitioners who may want to spend a period of six to 12 months at LSE to conduct independent research on a topic relevant to the work of the LSEE.

It is anticipated that Visiting Fellows, Visiting Senior Fellows and Visiting Professors will play an active part in the intellectual life of LSEE during their fellowship. Applications submitted to the scheme will first be considered by LSEE. Applications accepted at this stage will then be nominated to a central LSE committee, who make the final decision regarding visiting fellowships.

Over the Christmas period, LSE transferred to a new waste contractor.

The new agreement sees Sita UK collecting the School’s waste for the next three years at all sites, under the London Universities Purchasing Consortium’s ‘Sustainable Waste Management Services Framework’. This brings together what previously were multiple contracts under a single framework.

IMT have been working on the IMT Customer Portal, a new system which will ensure effective, efficient and consistent IT service management. While enhancing the quality of service delivered to the School, the Portal will importantly make it easier for you to log and keep track of any IT issues you may have.

We now need your help to test the IMT Customer Portal to make sure it is working correctly and does everything that you need. We want to gather your feedback so we can make improvements before we open the service to the School.

If you are interested in getting involved, please attend a drop-in session with IMT colleagues and let us know what you think of the Portal. Anyone who provides constructive feedback will be entered into a raffle* where the winner will receive an iPad Air 2**.

Biscuits, tea or coffee will be available and you are welcome to pop in anytime during one of the following slots:

We look forward to seeing you. If you have any question, contact Aleksandra Jeruzel, Project Manager at 020 7106 1312 or by email a.jeruzel@lse.ac.uk.

*Please note if you have already provided us with feedback you will automatically be entered into the raffle. This competition is open to all LSE staff excluding those working for Information Management and Technology.

LSE is committed to the creation and support of a balanced, inclusive and diverse staff community. This includes encouraging the active participation of its staff in the activities offered by LSE clubs and societies.

A group of LSE staff who are currently participating in the Leadership Development Programme have been asked to conduct a project on staff inclusivity, partly in response to the LSE Staff Survey carried out in MT 2012. The DMT sponsor for this project is Simeon Underwood.

In order to examine participation in LSE clubs and societies with a view to better understanding how to foster participation in these groups, the project team invites members of staff to answer a few questions, which will only take a couple of minutes: www.surveymonkey.com/r/H3XNMK6
This short survey will remain open until Thursday 29 January.

To congratulate the School on recently winning the ‘Best for Dads Top Employers Award’ from Workingmums, MamaBabyBliss sent two fantastic free gifts to the HR Division:

• A Daddy’s kit, which includes a washbag, Splash Baby Wash, Hugs Natural Baby Oil, Botty Bliss Natural Nappy Cream and a yellow plastic duck
• A Mummy’s kit, which includes Relax Mama-to-be Bath Soak, Oooh Relaxing Bath Soak, Tummy Love Stretchmark Oil, Bliss Stick Invigorating Oil, Bliss Stick Uplifting Oil, Aaah Mummy Baby Balm, PregnancyBliss CD and BabyBliss CD.

HR Division would like to offer a lottery for the gifts so that a lucky applicant from the next Dads workshop wins the Daddy’s kit, and a lucky applicant from the next Mums workshop wins the Mummy’s kit. Names of delegates attending will be drawn the day following the workshops and the winners will be notified.

The next workshops are on:

Balancing Work and Being Mum
Wednesday 4 February from 12.30-2.30pm
Balancing Work: building resilience in our primary age children and ourselves (NEW)
Thursday 12 March from 12.30-2.30pm
Balancing Work and Being Dad
Tuesday 24 March from 12.30-2pm

Do you use Excel as a database? If so, you may find Excel’s data form useful for adding, viewing, finding, editing or deleting records. The form is available as soon as you have set up column headings and enter at least one bit of data in the next row.

To use data forms, you must add the Form command to the Quick Access Toolbar (QAT) in the upper left corner of the Excel screen. (For more on QAT, see p.5 of this guide.)

1. Click the arrow at the right side of the toolbar and select More Commands.
2. In the Choose commands from box, select All commands.
3. Scroll down the list and double-click on the Form button.
4. Click OK to close the dialog box.

To open and use the form, open any Excel database file. Then click the Form icon in your QAT. Tab to move from field to field, and click the New button to open a new record. When you move from one record to another, any changes made in the form will be added to the Excel file.

As part of LSE Green Week (9-13 February), the LSESU Beekeeping Society is offering one of its beehives for painting!

You will have four sides of a hive to paint using only red, yellow and black, or mixes of these colours. Send a scanned image of your design to the Beekeeping Society by Friday 23 January to enter the competition. The winner will be announced on Wednesday 28 January. You must be available to paint the hive on between Thursday 29 January and Friday 6 February.

Lunchtime fitness classes

Grab your workout gear and come along to Mandy Li's lunchtime toning class on Mondays and boxfit class on Thursdays.

For more information, email Mandy at m.li@lse.ac.uk.
 

We have lots of activities which will help you get 2015 off to the right start. From belly dancing classes, to golf lessons, to boot camp sessions, with LSESU Active LifeStylE there is something for everyone.

For more information, visit www.lsesu.com/activelse.
 

Special offer for LSE staff

PRIV, a one-stop destination for all your beauty and wellness needs, is offering LSE staff a 10 per cent discount on all services.

PRIV brings your favourite services, along with highly-vetted professionals directly to you; anytime, anywhere. You can PRIV one or more of these services at a time: haircut, blowout, nails, massage, makeup, and fitness. Coming soon - spray tan and facials.

The discount will be automatically applied to your account when you download the app and sign up, providing that you have used your LSE email address.

This week's picture features historical novelist Hilary Mantel who received her Doctor of Literature from LSE on 17 December 2014.

Wolf Hall, the six-part adaptation of her two novels, Wolf Hall and Bring up the Bodies, starts on BBC Two on Wednesday 21 January.

For more images like this, visit the Photography Unit.

Older parents are boycotting the development of long-term care funding and insurance, fearing their children would relinquish all responsibility for looking after them in their old age, new research shows.

A study of 15 European countries, including the UK, by Dr Joan Costa-Font from LSE shows that the reliance on family above the State and private sector remains very strong.

Private insurance for long-term care (LTC) is negligible in Europe and only 15 per cent of the US population has private LTC insurance. This is despite a growing strain on people working full time and juggling responsibilities for looking after both children and older parents.

Two new reports from the World Bank Group and the International Growth Centre (IGC) reveal that informal economic activity in Sierra Leone has been depressed by the Ebola outbreak. Late rains delayed the harvest but food prices are following normal seasonal trends.

The World Bank report, produced in collaboration with Statistics Sierra Leone, Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA) and the IGC, shows a decline in household heads working in urban areas from 75 per cent in August to 67 per cent in November. Most of this decline is among those working in non-farm household enterprises. Employment in rural areas is unchanged.

On: Tuesday 20 January from 6.30-8pm in the Old Theatre, Old Building
Speakers: Professor Ronald J Deibert, Director of the Canada Centre for Global Security Studies and the Citizen Lab at the Munk School of Global Affairs, University of Toronto, Dr Gus Hossein, Executive Director of Privacy International, Professor Sir David Omand, Visiting Professor at King’s College London, and Professor Ronald W Pruessen, Professor of History at the University of Toronto.

Edward Snowden's revelations about the internet surveillance operations of the NSA shocked publics, but merely confirmed what many in the field of information security had long known and suspected.

Now that the extent of government activity in the 'fifth domain' is more widely appreciated, what are the implications of surveillance, big data, malware and hacking for individuals and societies? And what kinds of conversations do we need to have about the rules of cyberspace?

Other forthcoming LSE events include....

Managing Disruption, Avoiding Disaster and Growing Stronger in an Unpredictable World
On: Monday 19 January at 6.30pm in the Sheikh Zayed Theatre, New Academic Building
Speaker: Dr Judith Rodin (pictured)

Inequality and Taxation in a Globalised World
On: Tuesday 20 January at 6.30pm in the Hong Kong Theatre, Clement House
Speaker: Dr Gabriel Zucman

Hall of Mirrors
On: Wednesday 21 January at 6.30pm in the Old Theatre, Old Building
Speaker: Professor Barry Eichengreen (pictured)

Being German, Becoming Muslim: race, religion, and conversion in the New Europe
On: Wednesday 21 January at 6.30pm in the Hong Kong Theatre, Clement House
Speakers: Dr Esra Özyürek, Dr Ruth Mandel, Dr Nasar Meer, and Professor Joel Robbins

Defending Human Rights in Russia
On: Wednesday 21 January at 6.30pm in the Sheikh Zayed Theatre, New Academic Building
Speakers: Sergei Golubok, Dmitri Makarov, Roman Udot, and Dr Mary McAuley

Richard Uttley (pictured) (piano)
On: Thursday 22 January at 1pm in the Shaw Library, Old Building

LSE Works 2015

The first LSE Works lecture takes place on Thursday 15 January and will be given by Professor Daniel Ferreira (pictured) of LSE’s Financial Markets Group on ‘Corporate Boards: facts and myths’. A list of all the LSE Works lectures can be viewed at LSE Works.

LSE Works is a series of public lectures that will showcase some of the latest research by LSE's academic departments and research centres. In each session, LSE academics will present key research findings, demonstrating where appropriate the implications of their studies for public policy.

Daniel Ferreira’s previous research has influenced debate on the lack of women in company boardrooms and the UK Government’s decision to reject quotas. LSE’s new Impact Website has more.
 

Entrepreneurship Matters session three - ‘The Social Impact Business: building community with enterprise'

Daniela Papi Thornton, Deputy Director of Oxford University’s Skoll Centre for Social Entrepreneurship and founder of Learning Service, will lead the third Entrepreneurship Matters session on Tuesday 20 January at 6.30pm in the Sheikh Zayed Theatre, NAB.

Drawing on her experience as a social enterprise developer, she will describe the difference social impact tourism makes on people’s lives in the poorest communities and will offer examples of the different business models she’s seen practised in developing countries.

The talk will be followed by a networking reception, which finishes at 9pm. It is free to attend, but please email entrepreneurship@lse.ac.uk to register for a place.
 

What do Greek political elites think about Europe and the crisis? Preliminary results of recent survey research

On: Tuesday 20 January from 6-7.30pm in the Cañada Blanch Room, Cowdray House
Speaker: Dr Dimitris Sotiropoulos (pictured)

As the politics of European integration become more politicised, it is useful to explore the views of national elites and interpret them along national and political party lines. Parliamentary elites play the role of decision-makers, a role which is enhanced when difficult policy choices have to be made at times of economic crisis; in the case of EU Member-States such elites also play the role of mediators between EU institutions and citizens, a role which is particularly sensitive and vulnerable when economic adjustment programmes are agreed between the EU and Member-States.

All Hellenic Observatory seminars are open to all with no ticket required. Entry is on a first come, first served basis. More
 

Bahrain's election boycott: Lessons from Kuwait

On: Tuesday 20 January from 6.30-8pm in CLM 2.02, Clement House
Speaker: Dr Kristin Smith Diwan (pictured), American University

In November 2014 Bahrain held parliamentary elections which took place under an election boycott by the political opposition. This talk will explore the implication of these elections for Bahrain's political development and stability. It will also draw upon Kuwait's own recent experience with an opposition boycott to reflect more generally on the evolving political order in the Gulf states, in the context of the the failure of the 2011 Arab uprisings and the emergence of the threat of the Islamic State.

This event is free and open to all on a first come, first served basis. Our events are very well attended, please make sure to arrive early as we cannot guarantee entry. More
 

Theorising Revolution, Anticipating Civil War: class, state, and political practice in 1960s Lebanon

On: Wednesday 21 January from 4.30-6.30pm in room 9.05, Tower 2, Clement's Inn
Speaker: Dr Fadi Bardawil, University of North Carolina

Dr Fadi Bardawil will look at how Lebanon's simultaneous economic integration into the Arab area through its services-based mode of production, and its isolation from Arab political causes, was affected by the advent of the Palestinian Resistance on the national political scene.

In revisiting this moment, Bardawil will pay particular attention to how the Left theorised the Lebanese State, class-formation, as well as the role of Palestinian Resistance as an external force that would transform the rules of the Lebanese sectarian political game by rallying the masses around the national question.

This is a registration only event - please register using the online booking form. More
 

Date: Monday 26 January from 6.30-8pm in the Wolfson Theatre, New Academic Building
Speakers: Hans Kundnani (pictured), Research Director at the European Council on Foreign Relations and Associate Fellow at Birmingham University, and Quentin Peel, Mercator Senior Fellow at Chatham House.

This panel debate will mark the launch of Hans Kundnani's recently published book The Paradox of German Power.

On: Wednesday 28 January from 9-10.15am (breakfast briefing on overall findings) and 10.45am-12.30pm (additional presentations) at Mary Sumner House, 24 Tufton St, Westminster, SW1P 3RB (next to Westminster Abbey)

Researchers from LSE and the Universities of Manchester and York will launch nine new reports including an overview of the Coalition’s social policy record and separate papers on:

• taxes and benefits
• health
• adult social care
• under fives
• further and higher education and skills
• employment
• housing
• area regeneration

A further paper on schools will be launched on Tuesday 10 February, following the release of further GCSE results in late January.

Each paper contains thorough analysis of policy, spending and trends in outcomes, showing how the Coalition has tackled the fiscal and social policy challenges it faced in 2010.

Details of the event are:

8.30-9am Light breakfast available
9-10.15am Overview briefing on the Coalition’s record overall - Ruth Lupton and John Hills
10.15-10.45am Short break for coffee and networking
10.45-11.45am Choice of optional breakout groups covering more detailed evidence around:

• Employment, Tax, and Benefits (Abigail McKnight and John Hills)
• Health, Social care and Housing (Polly Vizard, Tania Burchardt and Becky Tunstall)
• Early years, Schools, and Further and Higher Education (Kitty Stewart and Ruth Lupton)

Hellenic Observatory 14th Annual Lecture - The Greek Economy: current developments and future prospects

On: Thursday 12 February from 6.30-8pm. The venue will be confirmed to ticket holders.
Speaker: Yiannis Stournaras (pictured), Governor of the Bank of Greece and former Greek Minister of Finance

Yannis Stournaras will talk about the current developments of the Greek Economy.

Tickets can be requested via the online ticket request form, which will be live on the LSE Events website from around 6pm on Thursday 5 February. More

Core Learning and Development Programme - training and development opportunities for staff

Managing Under Pressure
Tuesday 20 January from 10am-4.30pm

Fair Treatment and Respect for Staff
Monday 2 February from 10am-5pm

Fair Treatment and Respect for Managers
Tuesday 3 February from 10am-5pm

Balancing Work and Being Mum
Wednesday 4 February from 12.30-2.30pm

Recruitment and Selection
Wednesday 11 February from 9.30am-5pm

Running Career Development Review (CDR) effectively
Tuesday 17 February from 9.30am-12.30pm

Running Career Development Review (CDR) effectively
Tuesday 17 February from 1.30-4.30pm

Equality and Diversity Awareness
Wednesday 18 February from 10am-4pm

Developing your CV and Interview Skills
Tuesday 24 February from 10am-4.30pm

Visit Core Learning and Development Programme to find a comprehensive list of other courses available this academic year. If you have any queries or require additional information, email hr.learning@lse.ac.uk.
 

Our programme provides staff with the skills to win and manage research grants, latest research ethics policies, knowledge exchange and impact activities. It includes information sessions, workshops, panel sessions and visits from funding bodies. It also provides a platform to network and share experience with colleagues. Events are open to academic and professional services staff.

Information Session: Research Funding at LSE
Wednesday 21 January from 1-2.30pm
This session provides a snapshot of research funding support at LSE. It covers the different services available to staff applying or managing a research grant, including submission procedures and compliance.

Information Session: Research Fellowships (RCUK, Leverhulme, ERC, BA)
Tuesday 27 January from 12-1.30pm
This brief seminar will address open calls for Research Fellowships that can be applied anytime to specific UK funders, and other schemes with recurring deadlines throughout the year, such as the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC); Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC); and the British Academy (BA).

Workshop: Collecting Evidence of Research Impact
Tuesday 3 February from 1-2.30pm
Understand HEFCE requirements for documenting research impact. Explore the types of evidence that can be included in REF impact case studies.

Workshop: Winning EC Grants
Wednesday 4 February from 11.30am-2pm
How to get successful grants from EU bodies and a successful grant holder will share their experience.

Attracting corporate research funding while safeguarding academic independence
Thursday 5 February from 5.30-7pm
Academics interested in finding out more about engaging with corporations are invited to attend this panel discussion examining the benefits and potential pitfalls of business partnerships.

Below are some of the vacancies currently being advertised to internal candidates only, as well as those being advertised externally.

• Administrator, Teaching and Learning Centre
• Annual Fund Assistant, LSE Advancement
• Assistant Learning Technologist, Information Management and Technology
• Business Systems Support Officer, Academic Registrar's Division
• Communications Assistant, Information Management and Technology
• Course Administrator, Language Centre
• Departmental Manager, Methodology
• Evaluation Manager, International Growth Centre
• Events and Communications Officer, Institute of Public Affairs
• Executive MSc Programme Administrator, European Institute
• Head of Facilities, Estates Division
• International Alumni Executive, LSE Advancement
• Library Assistant Research Support Services, Library: Academic Services
• Policy Engagement Manager, International Growth Centre
• Professor/Associate Professor in Economics, Economics
• Student Liaison, Events and Communications Assistant, Sociology
• Student Recruitment Administrator, ARD: Student Recruitment
• Taught Programmes Manager, Philosophy