From noize to Port Factor and CELT …

Okay then, here’s the last post of a very quick jaunt through the more interesting work highlights of the last two weeks – yes, two cos I missed last week (too pre-occupied with da blubber thing) …

Had a very captivating discussion with reps from the Students Union regarding their presence in the City Centre Campus and how we may be able to help with respect to related ventures – they are such a great bunch of people – the pres, Andrew Cargill (Cargi) and the others get up to SO MUCH!  Check out http://www.newportunion.com/ to see info about The Port Factor (X-Factor on roids!) and of course, the famous Radio Noize, named after our VC … click on the link to listen in Realplayer –

http://www.newportunion.com/station_players/radio.ram

We also had an interesting meeting to try and crystallise aspects of the IT strategy for a building that won’t open for nearly 3 years and will have to be relevant for many years after that!  Part of that exercise is looking at RFID and we had a couple of demos this week from some of the leading suppliers – but I don’t reckon anybody’s wands really work yet!

Two meetings were held looking at how we design the internal space of what is currently being referred to as the Plateau – a learning resources area that will contain, well, most things!  We met with an internal designer and student reps and LIS staff separately …

Oh, I also had a meeting with the fantastic David Longman (Senior Lecturer in ICT in our School of Education) and we talked about so many fantastic ideas that we’re going to get together on – he’s a really inspirational chap!

Part of the above chat was in relation to a meeting that I also had this week with a Stuart Ball who is seconded to work for Microsoft – something quite exciting hopefully, but more on that if/when it comes to light.

We also worked on this year’s submission of the department’s Annual Monitoring Exercise for the department – and one of my colleagues, Michael Webb, was simply fantastic in the help he provided to get it out – TA, M, you’re a HERO!

Finally, also looked at the JD (job description) for the recruiting of a Professor of Learning and Teaching to head up our planned Centre for Excellence in Learning and Teaching.  Now this is very VERY exciting indeed! Again, more on that if and when …

Check out the next post (or the previous one, I haven’t got a clue) for the blubba challenge update …

Da blubba update …

So anyway, 3^rd post of the evening – a daunting record for me!  And its going to concentrate on non-work stuff…

Firstly, a blubba update on the week.  Good start – taking it easy in terms of working up the exercise and working down the intake.  That’s not a cop out – you genuinely have to ramp things up/down at a sensible pace to avoid your body going into survival mode etc etc!

Lost a couple of pounds – which is a normal target but now as much as is possible in a normal “first week” if you really dropped the carbs etc.  That’s because carbs hold water and period of carbohydrate reduction will see a dramatic initial weight reduction (not fat) due simply to the lack of presence of water holding carbs in the system.  Having said all that, we went to friends for lunch and tea yesterday and today and, well, I had to be polite didn’t I ???!!!!

Today, “off-day” – did that well, 10/10 

But if I’m going to be up at 6am pedalling, then I need to hit the hay!

Benchmarking, ISP and some great people …

Hmm, I never posted about the week prior to last (ie from Monday 19^th November).  It began with a really interesting e-learning benchmarking gathering to look at the outputs of a Higher Education Academy and JISC sponsored internal e-learning benchmarking exercise.  Fascinating results that now need to be disseminated and acted upon in the most appropriate manner …

I chair something called the Information Strategy Panel – a Uni-wide committee that looks at most things “information”.  It really is a genuine privilege to be a part of it –and I really love it!  I remember that I began my first meeting (a year and a half ago) with a Power Point presentation of how I saw the committee going forward and had some Thunderbirds pictures – man, I was SOOOO tempted to also include the Thunderbirds theme tune but with hind sight, that may have been a leap too far at that stage in the game    Anyway, the agenda currently has things on it like: committee papers online, electronic diaries, project management protocols, data protection policy, online telephone directories, electronic archiving, fundraising and CRM software, IT policies, University Timetabling, FOI, RAE and web information, HR systems, Registry, HESA etc.  We’ve been joined by an excellent fellow called Mat Cooper – who is doing some great work on DP, FOI and other legal related matters.

Also had a meeting looking at cashless cards and the future of a single card approach for security, entry etc as we move to the City Centre Campus – all very interesting stuff!  Thing is, don’t know how things like the Oyster card will take off to work as quasi-cash …

UK collaboration group met to look at elements of our partnership strategy – again, a joy to have been involved – we’re getting up to some great stuff and plan to do even more fantastic things in the future!

The Deans Forum is again, one of those meetings that it simply is a privilege to be a part of.  Great people and Chaired by the wonderful Professor Anne Carlisle – who until recently was my line manager.  She is one of those people that, by her very existence, gives weight to the argument FOR human cloning!  (For the record though, I’m not a supporter of human (or any other) cloning!) …

Finally, also had the privilege of meeting with Jennie Sparks, one of our Heads of School – who is helping me out with contacts/info for an article I’m hoping to write soon.  She again, is one of the jewels in Newport’s crown!

Oh yes, and of course, I turned 40 this week.