All Change and Programme Management Office courses

An introduction to the 8 Wastes (Lean methodology), and how to spot hidden waste in your own processes.

https://youtu.be/Jp5gIwr9xAU

“Values are the beliefs that are important to us about the way we interact with each other, how we work together effectively towards common goals and the behaviours that we demonstrate and expect to see from our colleagues.” (Emma Rampton, Registrary)

The ourcambridge Supporting our Staff team have developed this session, to provide a follow up to the very popular ‘What do you value in life?’ workshop. In the first session, participants identified their own personal values and considered what they might mean for how they lived their life and went about their work. In this follow up session, participants will reflect further on their personal values and participate in some exercises that will help them to identify further positive actions they can take to achieve closer alignment to their values in a supportive and motivating environment.

This short session will provide an understanding of the principles, tools and techniques involved in Process Analysis with a view to improving business process effectiveness and efficiency. Delegates will have the opportunity to practice using the techniques that they learn via exercises designed to be enjoyable and thought provoking.

The course refers to the methodology used in conjunction with Triaster process mapping software available to users across the University of Cambridge.

This short session will provide an understanding of the principles, tools and techniques involved in Process Analysis with a view to improving business process effectiveness and efficiency. Delegates will have the opportunity to practice using the techniques that they learn via exercises designed to be enjoyable and thought provoking.

Are you a young person just starting out at the university or someone who’s been in the world of work for years? Either way, an apprenticeship could be for you. Hear from an existing apprentice and a line manager about their experiences, and learn about the range of fully funded apprenticeships available that could help future-proof your career.

This session offers you an insight into the squiggly careers of some of your fellow professional service colleagues, and the bright sparks and black holes they have experienced along the way. ‘Bright sparks’ are the things that increase our energy and motivation and ‘black holes’ are the things that drain our positivity and drive.

There will also be an opportunity for you to identify the bright sparks and black holes in your own career and consider how these can help you to shape your next move in your squiggly career journey.

A series of informal peer-to-peer discussion groups have been arranged for Departmental Administrators and managers with responsibility for discussing and agreeing working arrangements with individuals in teams over the weeks and months ahead. The sessions are to share plans, ideas, and feedback during the ongoing implementation of hybrid working as more staff return to the workplace.

Each small group session will be facilitated by a member of the ‘Cambridge Works – New Ways of Working Project Team’

A series of informal peer-to-peer discussion groups have been arranged for Departmental Administrators and equivalent roles to share plans, ideas, and feedback during the ongoing implementation of hybrid working as more staff return to the workplace. Each small group session will be facilitated by the Co-leads for the ‘Digital Workplace Programme'. Please note: these sessions will focus on technology in relation to hybrid working: software, hardware and digital skills.

A series of informal peer-to-peer discussion groups have been arranged for those across all staff groups who have responsibility for discussing and agreeing working arrangements with individuals in their teams over the weeks and months ahead. The sessions are to share plans, ideas, and feedback during the ongoing implementation of hybrid working as more staff return to the workplace.

Each small group session will be facilitated by a member of the ‘Cambridge Works – New Ways of Working Project Team’

The Champions Christmas Social is just what it says – a chance for you to have an informal festive get together with your fellow champions. As in 2020, we’ve made it an online event to enable the maximum number of people to attend. It is a great opportunity to enjoy some Christmas cheer and get to know each other better.

We are pleased to welcome Laura Roper and Susanne Clarke from Bournemouth University who will be visiting to deliver our next continuous improvement seminar

Discover the transformative power of the KIND AP-3 Framework in our upcoming fun, and engaging workshop! Immerse yourself in an interactive session where we explore and discuss how this innovative framework seamlessly integrates traditional lean methodologies with appreciative inquiry and positive organisational scholarship.

Appreciative Inquiry and Positive Organisational Scholarship bring numerous benefits to organisations. Appreciative Inquiry fosters a positive workplace culture by focusing on strengths, fostering collaboration, and inspiring innovation. It encourages a shift from problem-solving to appreciating and amplifying what is already working well. On the other hand, Positive Organisational Scholarship emphasises the study of positive aspects within an organisation, promoting resilience, well-being, and exceptional performance. Together, Appreciative Inquiry and Positive Organisational Scholarship contribute to increased employee engagement, improved organisational morale, and enhanced problem-solving capacities, ultimately fostering a more vibrant and thriving work environment that drives sustainable success.

Don't miss out on this opportunity to see Laura and Susanne show how we can extend Lean principles to cater specifically to Higher Education whilst you enhance your professional skills and broaden your perspective.

Join our Vice-Chancellor, Deborah Prentice, to reflect on what the conference has achieved and how we can continue to build our professional services community in the year ahead.

The closing speech will be followed by tea, coffee and pastries and the chance to chat to professional services colleagues in an informal setting.

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.

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 work with to achieve your objectives. There will be the opportunity to ask questions, share ideas for potential new CoPs and learn more about this exciting new area of development in the University.

We are delighted to welcome Dave Bishton, Head of Business Change (& Service Improvement) at the University of Warwick who will run a session to discuss how understanding service demand and matching to the capacity of University services can help us deliver effective, Lean services.

Find out more about how the Estates Division is working to support you to create flexible, agile spaces that promote connection, productivity and collaboration in our working environments.

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

Have you heard of the term ‘interruption science’? In this session Gloria Mark, Chancellor’s Professor of Informatics at the University of California (Irvine), will talk to us about the effects of disruptions in the world of work. What impact do the many interruptions we face on a daily basis (such as email notifications) really have on us and our productivity. During the session Gloria will also explore technology design and our attention spans, and a mindful approach to technology.

About the Trainer

Gloria Mark is Professor of Informatics at the University of California, Irvine. She received her PhD from Columbia University in psychology. She has been a visiting senior researcher at Microsoft Research since 2012. Her primary research interest is in understanding the impact of digital media on people's lives and she is best known for her work in studying people's multitasking, mood and behaviour while using digital media in real world environments. She has published over 150 papers in the top journals and conferences in the fields of human-computer interactions (HCI) and Computer-supported cooperative work (CSCW) and is author of the book Multitasking in the Digital Age.

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

How have your work habits changed since lockdown? In this session, we will explore how to ensure a healthy balance of work/life habits, especially at a time when we are spending more time online than ever before. We will discuss some practical tips and strategies about how to control digital burnout, and how to manage your time and energy while working remotely.

Questions to think about before this session:

• What do you find are the best parts of working remotely?
• What do you find are the most challenging aspects of working remotely?

These events are sponsored by ourcambridge and UIS as part of the Digital Workplace Programme.

A series of 30 minute drop-in sessions to talk with one of the Continuous Improvement team. We offer expert, impartial advice relating all things process improvement and want to support our colleagues on their own continuous improvement journeys.

Please note, these sessions are informal, 1-2-1 meetings where colleagues can ask for advice and guidance from the team. These are not workshops or taught sessions.

The team will be available 9-10 and 4-5 every Tuesday and Friday - each hour can be split into two sessions of 30 minutes depending on demand.

Do you have an idea for a new Community of Practice? Or perhaps you have an existing group that you think might be suitable to become a Community of Practice. If, after looking at the guidance on the CoPs Sharepoint Hub, you would like to talk through your plans with a member of the CoP Support Group (CSG), then these 30min drop in sessions are for you!

Please note, these sessions are informal, 1-2-1 meetings where colleagues can ask for advice and guidance from the Communities of Practice support team. If there is more than of you working on an idea together, we suggest one of you book on and invites the other(s) CoP initiator(s)/leader(s). We will assume you have already familiarised yourself with the information and guidance on the Sharepoint, and have already begun to develop your ideas for a CoP.

A series of 30 minute drop-in sessions to talk with one of the Simplifying our Processes team. We offer expert, impartial advice relating all things process improvement and want to support our colleagues on their own continuous improvement journeys.

Please note, these sessions are informal, 1-2-1 meetings where colleagues can ask for advice and guidance from the Simplifying our Processes team. These are not workshops or taught sessions.

The Simplifying our Processes team will be available 9-10 and 4-5 every Tuesday and Friday - each hour can be split into two sessions of 30 minutes depending on demand.

A series of 30 minute drop-in sessions to talk with one of the Simplifying our Processes team. We offer expert, impartial advice relating all things process improvement and want to support our colleagues on their own continuous improvement journeys.

Please note, these sessions are informal, 1-2-1 meetings where colleagues can ask for advice and guidance from the Simplifying our Processes team. These are not workshops or taught sessions.

The Simplifying our Processes team will be available 9-10 and 4-5 every Tuesday and Friday - each hour can be split into two sessions of 30 minutes depending on demand.

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 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 if you would like to find out more, or be involved in the exciting development of a potential new EA/PA CoP. A lot of interest has been expressed about forming a CoP in this area - there will be the opportunity to ask questions, share ideas and learn more about how this could grow into a successfully functioning CoP.

This focus group provides an opportunity for you to support the ourcambridge team and contribute to the delivery of more effective and efficient meetings across the University.

Are you fed up with ineffective meetings? Or, are you already approaching meetings in an innovative way? The ourcambridge team would love your input, which will help to shape the guidance and toolkit we are producing.

The focus group will be formed of 6 colleagues using Microsoft Teams to discuss and answer a short series of questions centred around effective meetings and the guidance produced.

5S is defined as a methodology that results in a workplace that is clean, uncluttered, safe, and well organized to help reduce waste and optimize productivity. It's designed to help build a quality work environment, both physically and mentally.

This short virtual session looks at the Lean 5S tool as a way of organising workspace and how this can help wellbeing. It also draws comparisons with the Marie Kondo tidying method.

In preparation for the session, please take a photograph of something that makes you happy.

You will receive joining instructions a few days before the session with instructions on where to upload your photographs.

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.

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 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

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!

• 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).

The zoom link for the session will be provided at a later date.

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.

During this interactive session the ourcambridge Simplifying our Processes team will look at how habits can be established and how this can be applied to Lean tools and techniques, so helping to embed Continuous Improvement across the University.

The Five Ways to Wellbeing is an evidence-based framework of actions we can all take to improve our wellbeing. Find out what they are and come away with five (or more!) small actions you are going to take for your own wellbeing.

Bring along a way to jot down the actions you will commit to.

Find out what mentoring is (and isn't!), it's benefits, and where to look for a mentor or mentee.

A practical session where you will learn to crochet a Granny Square. Once you know the humble Granny Square you can make numerous projects - more than just blankets!

If you have a crochet hook and yarn please bring it with you on the day, if not materials will be provided. No previous experience or knowledge necessary.

One of the most important parts of a manager’s role is to support the development of others. This sounds like it should be easy but it can be trickier than it sounds. Come along and listen to some experienced managers discussing how they motivate and develop their teams.

The teams link for the session will be provided at a later date.

Many of us struggle with having potentially difficult conversations whether because of the fear of ‘getting it wrong’ or not knowing how to approach a situation objectively and with care. This sometimes results in issues not being addressed, which in turn can be detrimental to the individual, the team and, ultimately, the organisation. This practical 90-minute session aims to provide the structure, tools and tips to improve their skills to manage challenging conversations.

Be prepared to participate in Breakout Rooms.

Micro-coaching is a short, focused conversation using coaching skills. It can help us to generate insights and identify next steps with a specific opportunity or challenge. Micro-coaching is enriched by identifying how we want to feel in these specific situations, leading to better performance and wellbeing. This will be an interactive and future-focused workshop, and will include a guided micro-coaching activity where you will each use a deck of cards.

In this workshop, you will experience a guided micro-coaching activity to identify how you can make progress with an opportunity or challenge in an upcoming conversation or meeting that is important to you. We will each use the physical Emotional Culture Deck, which is an engaging and effective tool that takes a future-focused approach. The micro-coaching activity will include guided individual reflection and confidential paired conversations. By the end of the workshop, you will have generated ideas for practical next steps to get closer to your desired outcomes in your upcoming conversation or meeting. You will also have identified some effective coaching questions that you can use on your own, or with others, at work. We will use Slido and small group conversations to share insights. You are invited to come to this experiential and interactive workshop with an upcoming conversation or meeting in mind. This workshop will be a safe and confidential space; you are invited to contribute, and to share only what you feel comfortable with.

• Slido is an easy-to-use audience engagement tool that you can access via your mobile phone browser. It does not require downloads or registration. Please bring your mobile phone to access Slido in the session.

Note: there is also a 60-minute session via MS Teams on Tuesday 14th May if you would prefer a shorter virtual experience of micro-coaching, using a shared digital version of the Emotional Culture Deck.

About the facilitator: Sonali Kumarakulasinghe is a Coach, Facilitator and Consultant. She takes a Solution Focused approach and her coaching style is informal, focused and appreciative. Sonali has an MSc in Organisational Behaviour (Psychology) and she is a Certified Practitioner with the Emotional Culture Deck."

Micro-coaching is a short, focused conversation using coaching skills. It can help us to generate insights and identify next steps with a specific opportunity or challenge. Micro-coaching is enriched by identifying how we want to feel in these specific situations, leading to better performance and wellbeing. This will be an interactive and future-focused session, and will include a short, guided micro-coaching activity using a shared digital version of a card deck.

In this session, you will experience a short, guided micro-coaching activity to identify how you can make progress with an opportunity or challenge in an upcoming conversation or meeting that is important to you. We will use a shared digital version of the Emotional Culture Deck, an effective tool that takes a future-focused approach. The micro-coaching activity will consist of a short guided individual reflection. By the end of the activity, you will have generated ideas for practical next steps to get closer to your desired outcomes in your upcoming conversation or meeting. We will use Slido and short breakout groups to share general insights. You are invited to come to this interactive session with an upcoming conversation or meeting in mind. This session will be a safe and confidential space; you are invited to contribute, and to share only what you feel comfortable with.

• Slido is an easy-to-use audience engagement tool that you can access via your mobile phone browser. It does not require downloads or registration. Please bring your mobile phone to access Slido in the session.

Note: there are also 90-minute, in-person workshops on Monday 13th May if you would prefer a richer, hands-on experience of micro-coaching using the physical Emotional Culture Deck.

About the facilitator: Sonali Kumarakulasinghe is a Coach, Facilitator and Consultant. She takes a Solution Focused approach and her coaching style is informal, focused and appreciative. Sonali has an MSc in Organisational Behaviour (Psychology) and she is a Certified Practitioner with the Emotional Culture Deck."

The panel discussion on 'Developing Your Emotional Intelligence' offers participants invaluable insights and practical strategies from a diverse array of leaders, cultivating essential skills in self-awareness, empathy, and effective communication crucial for both personal and professional advancement.

Self-coaching for personal and professional growth empowers participants with vital skills and tools to proactively navigate their development journey with purpose and effectiveness.

An interactive session exploring ways in which you can prepare yourself for interviews, considering both the practical and the mental preparation to help you achieve the best possible interview you could have.

Be prepared to participate in breakout rooms.

An interactive session to signpost some of the many training and development options open to you and some options to consider reflecting on your career and progress.

A Q+A session will be held at the end for any specific queries.

Find out about a day in a Muslim's life and how the prayer is not only a pivotol part but a lot more than that!

Looking at how to turn failure into a positive rather than a negative. Discover the genuine benefits of failure. Guidance and techniques to show how to identify failure early and understand it.

A curated learning path on key skills for Mentoring (both for Mentors and Mentees). This Learning Path was created originally for the UIS Mentoring Scheme, but has kindly been made available for us all.

For more resources see the University of Cambridge's LinkedIn Learning Hub.

The course can be accessed here.

A curated learning path on working remotely. For more resources see the University of Cambridge's LinkedIn Learning Hub.

The course can be accessed here.

Discussion Topic: Discussing the difficult stuff: facing up to challenging conversations

This series follows on from the very popular first series held from April-July 2021. These informal drop-in sessions are designed to provide both new and more experienced leaders and managers, across all staff groups, with a safe space to share practice and discuss some of the challenges that can arise when supporting others to develop and strengthen their performance. Each session will start an hour of Q&A and discussion with a panel of experienced managers drawn from across the University. This will be followed by half an hour of small group discussion to allow participants the opportunity to meet other managers and share practice, in a smaller, more intimate setting. Those wishing to leave after the first hour and not stay on for final half hour in break out rooms, are free to do so. The format of the sessions is designed to facilitate peer support and learning. The sessions are not training sessions, although recommendations for training and other resources will be provided.

Comments from Series 1 participants: “I am loving all of these sessions and am so happy to have discovered a platform where ‘it all makes sense’” “It’s lovely to convene a group of people interested in leadership and developing their skills in this area.” “I intend to participate in as many sessions as I can because this forum gives a focused approach on developing leadership skills that are expected within the University. I had been looking for some sort of a planned approach to this and am really glad I found this.”

Panellists

Ken Billington - HR Adviser, School of Technology

Bruce Daniels - Administration and Operations Manager, Gurdon Institute

Emma Marron - Head of HR Shared Services, Human Resources Division

Questions we will consider during the session

1. What’s the most difficult conversation that you have had to have as a manager?

2. Was it as bad as you thought it was going to be?

3. Why do you think we avoid these conversations?

4. What can be the consequences of avoiding a difficult conversation?

5. How do you prepare for a meeting like this, both practically and mentally?

6. What mistakes have you made in the past, when trying to do this?

7. What approaches have you developed that you find work well?

8. What advice would you give to another manager who was dreading a difficult conversation?

9. How do you decompress after a meeting like this and ensure that your well-being is not impacted?

Are we more distracted these days? We often find ourselves multi-tasking and juggling multiple digital tasks and distractions during the course of our everyday work and lives. So how can we create positive digital habits that allow us to focus and make the best of our time on screen?

Questions to think about before this session:

• What are your biggest digital distractions?
• What do you wish you had more time to do during the course of the day?

These events are sponsored by ourcambridge and UIS as part of the Digital Workplace Programme

This interactive session aims to support our mentees to find a mentor. A selection of our currently available mentors will introduce themselves and share a little bit about their background, knowledge, and experience. It offers the opportunity for mentees to get to know some of our available mentors and consider whether they may be a good potential match. There will then be time for questions so that you can consider which potential mentors could best support your growth, learning, and career development.

Please take advantage of this chance to connect with mentors willing to share their experiences and assist you in achieving your goals. Sign up now and start your mentorship journey!

During this interactive session the ourcambridge Simplifying our Processes team will look at how habits can be established and how this can be applied to Lean tools and techniques, so helping to embed Continuous Improvement across the University. We will then discuss the impact that this could have on wellbeing.

Ourcambridge offer a wide range of opportunities for professional services employees wishing to develop their confidence and skills, and broaden their networks. At this session, we will provide an overview of the opportunities we offer to support your career development and information about how you can access these. The session will cover:

• Prioritising your personal development – what to consider and making the most of the SRD process

• Developing your Digital Skills – learn more about recent exciting developments in this area, including the new JISC self-assessment tool to review your digital skills

• Lean Practitioner training and certification – how might this support you in your role and what skills will it support you to develop?

• Communities of Practice – what are they and how can you join one to meet others working in similar areas?

• The Self-Match Mentoring Scheme – why you should find a mentor or how you can become one to others

• Speed mentoring – for those who are short of time but would still welcome a bit of extra support and advice

• Becoming an ourcambridge champion – what does this involve and how might it benefit your career development?

Join is for an afternoon of Christmas activities, designed to share information and enable networking amongst champions

Join us for an informal session where you can have your say about getting the most of being an ourcambridge champion and help shape the future of the ourcambridge programme. You will take part in a facilitated conversation by a member of the ourcambridge team.

An interactive workshop to determine the format and structure of the ourcambridge champions MS Teams group, including channels.

The workshop will be facilitated by a member of the ourcambridge team.

Places are limited and will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

Please do not sign up to this workshop if you are booked to attend the session on Tuesday 13th October

Have you ever wondered how senior managers balance demanding job roles and extensive workloads? The ourcambridge team have brought together an experienced panel of senior managers who are happy to share an honest insight into the realities of their workload management. The session will include the opportunity to ask questions to the panel and provide some top tips and interesting reflections.

Speakers:

• Emma Rampton, Registrary
• Professor Anna Vignoles, Professor of Education, Faculty of Education
• Dr Nick Bampos, Deputy Head of Department, Department of Chemistry
• Dr Karen Kennedy, Director of Strategic Partnerships Office

Chair/Facilitator:

Jenny Rampling, Senior Programme Co-ordinator, ourcambridge

Speakers: Joanne Bishenden and Ian Matthias from PA Consulting Title: ourcambridge seminar: Engaging with Academics Effectively Wednesday 24 July 3-4pm Faculty of Classics, Lecture Theatre 1.02, Sidgwick Site

The ourcambridge team are involved in a number of projects that aim to improve staff wellbeing and recognise the critical contribution that professional services staff make to the University. This session will provide an overview of the ourcambridge programme, how our projects aim to support staff and highlight the ways professional services staff can get involved.

Speakers:

• Rachel Machon, Head of HR for ourcambridge and Supporting Our Staff Lead
• Jenny Rampling - Senior Programme Coordinator
• Claire Brind - Senior Programme Coordinator
• Freya Villis - Senior Programme Coordinator
• Dr Fatima Baldo - Professional Services Graduate Trainee

Over the past year, ourcambridge has worked with professional services staff from across the University to develop a set of core values that underpin the way we work. The values that you chose together were: Trust, Respect, Integrity and Collaboration. Embedding these as part of our culture means truly living them in the way in the way we work, through our actions and behaviours.

This focus group provides the opportunity for you to share your ideas for practical ways in which we can bring these values to life in our daily work. We will discuss the types of initiatives, tools and resources that individuals, managers, and teams may find most useful for promoting and embedding these new values. The focus group will be formed of 6 colleagues using Microsoft Teams.

The sessions will be led by Fatima Baldo, Jenny Rampling and Freya Villis, Senior Programme Co-ordinators

This peer support session offers you the opportunity to meet other mentees on the self-match mentoring programme. The session will be lightly facilitated by Ceren Caser, a longstanding and enthusiastic member of the programme and member of the mentoring project team. It is a short, informal session designed to offer mentees the chance to share their experiences and talk over any challenges they may be having. Talking to others can help to motivate you and keep you on track towards your goals, so that you can get the most out of your mentoring relationship. It is also a great way for you to network with others in the University.

Join the Post Graduate Masters community for their summer event. The session will kick off with an opportunity for members to share their experience and thoughts on assessments - what types of assessment are used, what is working well and what isn’t.

The second part of the event will explore the future of the CoP, including reflections from the current CoP team, an introduction to the new Teaching & Learning CoP, and a discussion on the future of the CoP.

Join us for the second Project Management Community of Practice Café Event focussed on: How important do you think it is to define roles and responsibilities?

These events will provide you with the opportunity to network with fellow CoP members in an informal breakout room format. Each session will start with an opening question, in this instance: How important do you think it is to define roles and responsibilities?, which you will have the opportunity to discuss in informal small groups.

They provide the space and opportunity to share knowledge, experience and answer questions in a safe and supportive environment.

Join us for the inaugural Project Management Community of Practice Topic Talk on frameworks and methodologies - the most popular area of discussion in the scoping survey.

The panel discussion will provide you with an opportunity to hear from colleagues working in project management across the University. Panellists will discuss which frameworks and methodologies they have used when managing projects, and provide real world examples of how these have been implemented within the University context.

Panellists:

• Katrina West - Business Improvement Manager (PG Funding Project), Cambridge Admissions Office
• Claire Michel - Medicine & Veterinary Medicine Curriculum Review Manager, Office of the School of Biological Sciences
• Mark Rowland - Head of Delivery Management Office, University Information Services

This will be followed by time to ask questions to panel members in a safe and supportive environment.

In this session we will explore the diverse ways in which we engage with the online world, and discuss mental and emotional health in the context of the different digital cultures we live in: social media, video streaming, and work collaboration platforms, among others. The concept of being Digitally Well will be introduced as a way of differentiating between digital habits that are humane and nourishing and those that are harmful and depleting, with a particular emphasis on emotional regulation and body awareness practices.

Questions to think about before this session:

· What are your most and least favourite online activities, and what emotional impact do they have on you?

· What online activities do you tend to seek out when you are experiencing difficult emotions?

About the Trainer

Teodora Pavkovic is an external trainer who will be leading the course. She is a psychologist, parenting coach and digital wellness consultant who utilizes the principles of emotional intelligence, neuroscience and positive psychology to inform and improve digital wellness for individuals, families and organizations. She conducts one-on-one coaching with children and adults, facilitates talks and workshops with educators and corporates, consults with a variety of for- and non-profit organizations and speaks on expert panels and at international conferences. As a certified digital wellness educator and member of both the British and American Psychological Associations, as well as co-chair of the parenting professionals group of the Children's Screen-Time Action Network and advisory board member of several educational and mental health organizations, Teodora is committed to helping individuals and groups preserve and protect their wellbeing and relationships in this increasingly digital world.

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

This is an interactive session designed to support you if you are coming to the end of a fixed term contract, so that you can feel more confident and positive about managing this significant period of change. We will start with introductions to allow you to get to know each other and share a little about your current situation and any particular challenges you are facing, then go on to discuss how you can manage the upcoming changes, and signpost you towards help and support that is available.

A short course explaining how we identify, map and analyse business processes at the University of Cambridge

The Professional Services Recognition Awards aim to recognise, highlight and celebrate the very best work across all professional service areas in the University. In September, colleagues were invited to nominate individuals and teams that they believed had made a difference to them, their team, and/or to the wider University in the academic year 2020-21. They were asked to nominate under the categories listed below, all of which reflect the Professional Services Values of trust, respect, integrity and collaboration. The awards aim to recognise those colleagues who have truly demonstrated these values in their day to day work.

Award Categories

· Innovating and Improving: Congratulating those who have innovatively and effectively improved or simplified a system or process, and in doing so have made it more efficient.

· Being kind to colleagues: Thanking those who have shown kindness and compassion for their colleagues, whether that is supporting them with a piece of work, or simply in day-to-day interactions.

· Going above and beyond: Appreciating those who have gone above and beyond the call of duty, been flexible and adaptable in order to solve an unexpected problem, showing resilience and agility.

· Creating an inclusive community: Rewarding those who have helped to create an inclusive environment for all, by showing a high level of courtesy for, and trust in others.

· Working as a team: Celebrating those who have worked collaboratively with others, either within or across disciplinary or departmental borders, to get something done.

· Being an Unsung Hero: Recognising those who have quietly gone about their daily work and might otherwise go unnoticed, but who make a real difference to their team, department and/or the wider University.

The Project Management Community of Practice brings you project management topics in bite sized chunks. Listen to your colleagues from across Collegiate Cambridge discuss all things project management. Click the links below to listen to the podcast:

Podcast 1: Meet the Core Group - Hosted by Ellie Wolmark from the CRUK Cambridge Centre, the Core Team tell you who they are, what their role is and discuss why they joined the CoP.

Podcast 2: Interesting Routes into Project Management part 1 - There is no one route into project management. Tori Helmer and Heather Biggs tell us their stories and give insights into their career journeys.

Podcast 3: Interesting Routes into Project Management part 2 - The second part of this podcast features Bethan Everson and Katie Light telling their stories.

Podcast 4: An Introduction to Communications - Katie Edwards and Craig Brierley give a fantastic overview of what comms entails, and how you can use it within a project for maximum impact.

Podcast 5: An Introduction to Stakeholder Management - Greg Strachan and Sally Measures give their take on Stakeholder Management within a project.

Podcast 6: An introduction to Retrospectives - Holly Cox and Signe Jensen talk about what retrospectives mean within project management.

Join us for our first session of “Making Connections”, our new networking series of events. We intend to organise these sessions once a term, for 45 minutes, with the aim of building meaningful relationships, sharing knowledge, and supporting one another's growth and success. Running projects within the University can be challenging, and if someone hasn’t experienced this, they might not understand it. So, we aim to break down silos and bring people together. For our first session, we will be focusing on the topic of “Project New Year Resolutions”. We will discuss what projects you are focusing on in 2024, with the aim of:

• Engaging in thought-provoking discussions
• Sharing your best practices, tips, and success stories to inspire others
• Asking for advice in a collaborative atmosphere

All while meeting new people and forging new connections!

This session will take place virtually on Thursday 29th February, 12:40-13:25.

Look forward to seeing you there!

Reimagining Professional Services (RPS) is one of 13 projects which make up the University’s Recovery Plan. Join us for an informal question and answer session on RPS with Academic Secretary, Mike Glover.

The session follows Issue Two of The Cat’s Whiskers, the exclusive vlog for ourcambridge champions, in which Mike Glover talks to Kate Maxwell and Rachel Machon about RPS and his hopes for the future.

The workshop is part of the first stage of the ‘Reimagining Professional Services’ programme where we will discuss what is working well for staff, and where there is room for improvement, for the benefit of the collegiate University.

"Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it" - William Arthur Ward

We all like to feel appreciated but how often do we take the time to say thank you and praise a colleague for a job well done? From a University perspective, recognition and appreciation are vital: they create a positive working environment, motivate people, make them feel valued, help them to see the purpose and importance of their work, and improve performance by reinforcing positive behaviours and embedding values.

We are offering this session to provide an opportunity for colleagues to share ideas and approaches for recognising and appreciating the contribution of others. Colleagues from departments who have launched their own recognition initiatives will be invited to share their experiences.

In this session we will look at how creating a strong professional presence or ‘brand’ can help you achieve your career goals. You will learn some top tips for enhancing your profile, together with strategies for developing behaviours that will help you stand out from the crowd and open up opportunities.

Communication is an important part of any mentoring relationship. The key skills of active listening and asking good questions can make a real positive contribution to its success. Come and get some practical advice and learn some useful tips from two experts. The session is equally relevant to both mentors and mentees.

We will begin by considering together how it feels to receive feedback and will then go on to consider the skills and techniques needed to give feedback well.

We will begin by considering together how it feels to receive feedback and will then go on to consider the skills and techniques needed to give feedback well.

This session provides an introduction for both mentors and mentees. We will discuss the benefits of mentoring and provide guidance on how to set objectives for the mentoring relationship and how to prepare for your first session together. We will also offer some tips about how to be a good mentee and mentor.

A short how-to guide to creating and using SIPOC analysis in process improvement

A short introduction to De Bono's Six Thinking Hats - a creative thinking tool for creative meetings.

Have you ever wished you could get 10 minutes with a senior colleague to ask their advice on how they would handle something? Have you ever wondered how others approach challenging problems? This is your opportunity to ask. We are bringing together a panel of very experienced colleagues from across the University for a special speed mentoring session so that they can offer you their support and advice.

Speed mentoring offers you the opportunity for a series of short, focused conversations about a specific question or issue you are struggling with. You will rotate around four different mentors, spending around 10 minutes with each, to gain different perspectives on an issue you are seeking to resolve or a project you are trying to progress.

"I liked that there were a diverse background of university staff involved in the session, and all of the mentors were really engaged and enthusiastic. I felt that I could be honest about some of my experiences in the University, good and bad. All the mentors I spoke to acted as a good sound board for the issues that I wanted to discuss and they have given me some excellent advice and ideas."

"The fact that we saw 4 different mentees was brilliant - we gained different perspectives, saw different mentoring types and were also introduced to people and roles we may not have known about."

Mentors:

• Charlotte Knights - Senior Professional Services Manager, Human Resources Division

• Andy Hyland - Learning and Development Consultant, Human Resources Division

• Kirstie Buckridge - Organisational Development Consultant, Human Resources Division

• Bruce Daniels - Assistant Director for Research Operations School of Physical Sciences, Research Office

• Suzanne Fowler - Head of HR Policy and Strategic Projects, Human Resources Division

• Elle Wills - ED&I Advisor, Cambridge University Libraries

In this uplifting session mental wellbeing expert Sam Thorogood from Tiny Pause will take staff through active listening techniques to strengthen relationships and understand the neuroscience of stress, relationships and connection.

In this session we will discuss together how to get your mentoring relationship off to a good start, how to build trust with your mentor and build your confidence as a mentee. We will also touch on how to overcome any obstacles in the mentoring relationship.

In this session we will discuss together how to get your mentoring relationship off to a good start, how to build trust with your mentee and build your confidence as a mentor. We will also touch on how to overcome any obstacles in the mentoring relationship.

Join us for lunch at our exhibition of external professional and industrial partners as well as a relaxed poster and creative showcase made by technical colleagues. There will be prizes for entries and plenty of time for networking.