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ourcambridge is leading a project focused on developing resources and tools to help and support workload management for professional services staff at the University.

This focus group will discuss the types of tools and resources that individuals, managers, and teams may find most useful. The focus group will be formed of 6 colleagues using Microsoft Teams.

The session will be led by Jenny Rampling, Senior Programme Co-ordinator

This talk will present an evidence-based take on time management: one that’s grounded in the latest research in cognitive science, psychology, and chronobiology. We’ll look at how people can gain control over their time in order to focus on what matters, in a way that reduces stress and increases emotional well-being. This talk will be highly interactive and organic, with plenty of opportunity to discuss ideas and insights around time management. So don't be afraid to ask questions and share your thoughts and stories!

About the Trainer

Brad Aeon is an Assistant Professor at the School of Management Sciences at University of Quebec in Montreal. He conducts research on the sociology, history, and philosophy of time management. His studies focus on how people can achieve what matters to them while reducing stress and living more meaningful lives. Brad’s ideas and insights have been featured in top-tier media outlets worldwide, including the BBC News, the Harvard Business Review, Entrepreneur, the Huffington Post, and many others. His 2017 TEDx Talk, "The Philosophy of Time Management," urges people to reflect on their relationship with time and on how to live more mindfully.

These events are sponsored by HR, ourcambridge and UIS as part of the Digital Workplace and Cambridge Works Programmes.

This interactive course is complementary to other courses within the Continuous Improvement theme and is designed to give delegates the knowledge and tools to;

• plan and deliver process improvement workshops
• coach and support others to improve processes

No one cares as much about your future as you do. This interactive session is designed to empower you to take control of your career development and spur you in to action. It is common to feel stuck, or uncertain about the future. We will help you to confront these fears and move forward positively. We will share with you some of the many interesting opportunities open to you so that you can explore your options, build your confidence and develop your skills, at your own pace and in a way that suits you. By the end of the session, you should feel confident to start drawing up a Personal Development Plan so that you can reach your full potential.

Do you suspect there’s an easier way of doing something? Feel like you're wasting time doing pointless steps in a process? Join this interactive session to discover a new continuous improvement tool called Kaizen to help you eliminate unnecessary work and simplify the tasks that you need to do.

Knowing and using your strengths, living your values, caging your confidence gremlins, building a network in a way that works for you, and exploring your future possibilities are the essential skills to have a happy and successful squiggly career.

Join bestselling author and podcaster Sarah Ellis from Amazing If to get inspired about building a ‘squiggly career’ at the University. You may be surprised at the opportunities available across our professional services community. Join online via Zoom or watch and join the zoom chat with colleagues at the Triangle building.

Please note that guests attending the earlier session at the Triangle building will have the option to stay and watch on the big screen at the Lecture Theatre.

Join bestselling author and podcaster Sarah Ellis for the third of our sessions from Amazing If.

Throughout our careers we spend much of our time working in teams. Teams that are fluid and cross-functional with frequent change and people often working in different places and spaces. For teams to be high performing they need to develop high trust. A high trust team is one where there is respect, people are comfortable to be themselves and challenge each other, and where the whole adds up to more than the sum of the parts. In this session, we explore the key contributors to creating and sustaining a high trust team.

What you will learn:

• A framework for assessing team trust today
• How quality questions can create and increase team trust
• How to create a prioritised team action plan for creating/building/sustaining a high performance team

The Covid-19 pandemic has changed the way we work forever. One of the biggest challenges that employers face is how to navigate new hybrid ways of working that deliver both improved productivity and a happier, healthier workforce. This interactive, small group session, will invite participates to share their thoughts on the last year, how we centre staff wellbeing in new ways of working and how we may overcome any obstacles along the way?

The session will be facilitated by Jenny Rampling, (Senior Programme Coordinator at ourcambridge), who is part of the ‘Cambridge Works – New ways of working’ project team at the University.

In this session we will explore the complex and nuanced ways technology can keep us awake at night. Touching on the role of blue light but discovering other elements that contribute to our lack of sleep: addictive social media algorithms and the effect of different types of digital media.

About the Trainer

Dr. Michael Grandner is a licensed clinical psychologist, board-certified in Behavioral Sleep Medicine. He is the Director of the Sleep and Health Research Program at the University of Arizona and Director of the Behavioral Sleep Medicine Program at the Banner-University Medical Center in Tucson. Dr. Grandner is Associate Professor of Psychiatry, Psychology, Medicine, Nutritional Sciences, and Clinical Translational Science at the University of Arizona. He is an internationally-recognized expert in sleep health, has over 200 academic publications, and frequently consults with health, technology, athletics, and nutritional companies and organizations regarding sleep, health, and performance. Read more about him at http://michaelgrandner.com.

These events are sponsored by HR, ourcambridge and UIS as part of the Digital Workplace and Cambridge Works Programmes.

This is one session in a series of structured workshops to help develop our future People Strategy

This is one session in a series of structured workshops to discuss individual aspects of new ways of working.

A panel discussion with professional services leaders talking about their collective vision for professional services at the University. Followed by a Q&A where staff can ask leaders about change underway in finance, HR or research support, for example.

In this session Lucy Hargreaves, Interim Head of the Change and Programme Management Office (CPMO), will explain the remit of the CPMO and share insights into the office's priorities and activities over the coming months.

This will be followed by an open feedback session, where you will have the opportunity to share your experience of being involved in and/or managing projects at the University of Cambridge. Come prepared with your feedback, examples and any questions you would like to ask Lucy.

The course is designed to give participants an overview of Lean thinking as applied within Higher Education, and an explanation of some of the basic tools used to make improvements to processes. This session will focus on how to break down a problem and work towards a justifiable and confident decision to achieve the best outcome you can.

The course is designed to give participants an overview of the history and principles of the Lean methodology, and an explanation of some of the basic tools used to make improvements to processes. This session will provide some basic tools that can be used immediately to facilitate a continuous improvement way of working

This course is accredited with the LCS (Lean Competency System), a certificate will be provided on completion of a short assessment.

Details regarding LCS can be found here - https://www.leancompetency.org/

The course is designed to give participants an overview of the history and principles of the Lean methodology, and an explanation of some of the basic tools used to make improvements to processes. This session will provide some basic tools that can be used immediately to facilitate a continuous improvement way of working

This course is accredited with the LCS (Lean Competency System), a certificate will be provided on completion of a short assessment.

Details regarding LCS can be found here - https://www.leancompetency.org/

Note - an 'in person' session is also available to book via https://www.training.cam.ac.uk/ourcambridge/event/4155431

This short video provides an overview of Kaizen as a Continuous Improvement methodology

A Community of Practice (CoP) is a group of people who share a common passion, set of problems, or interest in a topic and who come together to fulfil both individual and group goals. 

CoPs bring colleagues together in order to:

• Create support networks

• Learn and grow their skills

• Share knowledge and join up related work

• Share common approaches

• Collaborate and innovate, and create better practices for everyone.

Come along to this session to find out more about how CoPs are being established and embedded at Cambridge, and the ways in which they could help you and those who you manage. There will be the opportunity to share ideas and concerns you have about the CoPs initiative and learn more about this exciting new area of development in the University.

We believe in the people at the heart of what we do, and we believe in the importance of leadership and management. The CoP will aim to champion best practice, build on communal expertise, and provide support across the diversity of our staff. We will work alongside the change programmes, supporting those with leadership and management roles in making the most of those programmes, and helping the University to continue to thrive. The Community of Practice will run events, encourage ongoing conversation amongst peers and provide feedback / requests to central teams, advocating for change in a constructive way. To launch the Community of Practice, we are excited to be hosting our first event at The Postdoc Academy, Eddington on Tuesday 21st May. Join us to celebrate the new CoP, meet colleagues & learn more!

This workshop offers an opportunity for personal reflection, based on the 5 squiggly skills: values, strengths, career community, confidence and progression possibilities. Whether leading a team, contributing to a project or as a member of the diverse university community, we all have opportunities to role-model and encourage colleagues to develop these life and career skills. Explore some squiggly ways to do this!

Are you interested in Lean thinking? Maybe you fancy a refresher? If you can you remember your Wastes and your 5 Whys (or even if you can't!), come and put your skills to the test with the Lean Escape Room!

Taking place in Greenwich House initially, there will be several opportunities over two days to pit your wits against clues and Lean puzzles.

This is a hands-on challenge in under an hour for your team or workmates (up to 5 per room), this Lean Escape Room has been developed using ideas from our LeanHE friends from The University of Tromso.

• The course provides an LCS accredited Lean Practitioner qualification. The course involves a 2-day training session followed by completion of a 6-week project.

https://www.leancompetency.org/

A charge of £200 is applied to this course. Payment is via PO or credit card and the booking will be confirmed on receipt of PO or confirmation of payment. Please see the payment policy https://www.training.cam.ac.uk/ourcambridge/info/payment for payment details etc.

A presentation designed to offer an insight into apprenticeships, what they are, how they’re funded and how a potential learner, or recruiting manager, can take full advantage of the opportunities and benefits that they offer, educationally and financially.

If you have any burning questions about apprenticeships, for yourself or as a recruiting manager, this is the session for you.

Confidence is one the skills that helps us to overcome the challenges and constraints that come our way as part of a squiggly career. Increasing our confidence gives us the belief to make the most of opportunities and be curious and ambitious about where our careers can take us.

Join bestselling author and podcaster Sarah Ellis from Amazing If in this career programme as we discuss how you can cage your confidence gremlins (the limiting beliefs that hold us back).

An interactive and thought provoking session about exploring ways to shape your job into the career you love.

A notebook and a pen are required. Be prepared to participate, reflect and note things down.