Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Education and Students), Professor Kate O'Riordan, wrote to all taught students earlier today. You can read the full message below:

Hello,

It is Random Acts of Kindness Week (11-17 February), and in line with the week’s theme we have an inspiring interview with alumna Helen Rimmer. Helen’s small business, The Kind Brave Leader, was recently recognised by well-known entrepreneur Theo Paphitis. In the interview, Helen talks about the value of her studies at Sussex (in both Media and Psychology) and how kindness can make a difference in our daily lives.

One way you can complete an act of kindness this week is by nominating staff for our annual Education Awards – it only takes a few minutes – and it means a lot. Every year we ask our students to nominate staff who they think deserve to be recognised and rewarded for the amazing work they do in supporting student experience and teaching excellence, and making students feel valued and cared for. There are some wonderful examples in Monday’s edition of Flint magazine, where you can hear from some of last year’s winners. Nominations are open until Friday 8 March.

In other news, our Vice-Chancellor Sasha Roseneil recently featured on BBC Radio Four’s Analysis programme, where she spoke about her research on intimate citizenship, networks of intimacy and care, and the increasing importance of friendship in people’s lives. You can catch up online (the segment begins at around 14 minutes 25 seconds). The book Sasha co-authored, The Tenacity of the Couple-Norm (2020), is also available online for free through UCL Press.

Please read on for your regular update, including:

• Enjoy and learn through our novel arts programme with Brighton Festival
• Apply! Flexible, paid Connector roles open for applications now
• Make it Happen – exclusive career advice from Sussex alumni
• Pitch for the Planet is back – £5,000 seed funding to be won
• Wellbeing support with the Survivors’ Network
• Talk about intergenerational justice and equality (28 February)
• Creating an accessible Library – planning permission granted for a new entrance
• Win a brand-new MacBook Air with Santander Universities

Enjoy and learn through our novel arts programme with Brighton Festival

As the Higher Education Partner for Brighton Festival 2024, we are pleased to continue to put education at the heart of the city's annual celebration of arts and creativity. Our partnership helps to support this great opportunity for you and your fellow students to experience a vast range of arts and cultural events on campus, and in our local community. With a series of events, led by our School of Media Arts and Humanities, we invite you to listen to bird song, think like a witch, and feel the magic with Turner Prize winner and Sussex alumnus, Jeremy Deller.

Apply! Flexible, paid Connector roles open for applications now

Do you want to get involved in a paid, flexible role working in collaboration with staff and making positive improvements to the student experience? No previous experience required! The Connector Programme team is currently accepting applications for three flexible roles:

• Residential Life – supporting students living on campus (deadline: 25 February)
• Spirit of Sussex Award – celebrating your co-curricular achievement (deadline: 25 February)
• Commuter students in Media, Arts and Humanities – for our students who live at home or independently (deadline: 21 February).

For all roles, we are particularly keen to hear from undergraduate students from groups that do not always see themselves represented at the University, to ensure that the voices around our table better reflect the community.

For further information, see the Connector programme pages on the Student Hub or @ConnectorProgramme on Instagram, then join the Connector Programme Community on Microsoft Teams to apply for role(s). 

Make it Happen – exclusive career advice from Sussex alumni

Make it Happen 2024 is your exclusive opportunity to hear from Sussex alumni about how they got into their industries, their tips for job-hunting success and how you could go on to do the same.

Taking place on campus throughout March, the events will focus on three different sectors; Development and Not-for-Profit, Government and Public Services and Media, Arts and Communications. You will have the chance to network with the speakers after each session, which has led to successful employment or work for some students in previous years. All students are welcome to attend each event.

Find out more and book your place.

Pitch for the Planet is back – £5,000 seed funding to be won

Launching on 19 February, Pitch for the Planet is our annual student sustainability innovation competition. It gives you the chance to win up to £5,000 seed funding and a coveted spot in our summer accelerator. Check our sustainability news feed for more information and start thinking of your ideas!

Wellbeing support with the Survivors’ Network

The Survivors’ network is facilitating a peer support group for student survivors of sexual assault, abuse or harassment. The group offers a safe, welcoming and trauma-sensitive space. Their next session will be on Thursday 27 February.

If you have experienced domestic violence, a hate incident, discrimination, bullying or sexual violence, please let us know using the report and support tool, and an advisor will get in contact with you, if you have indicated that you would like to speak with someone.

The University’s services also offer advice and support on any issue that may be affecting you. You can contact the Student Centre in person at the Welcome Desk, on the phone (01273 075700), or online via the My Sussex portal. You can now also use My Sussex to book an appointment to visit our friendly advisors.

Talk about intergenerational justice and equality (28 February)

Join our next Inclusive Sussex: In Conversation event focusing on how inequality and inclusion are viewed across generations and the role universities can play in helping drive change. The fourth in this series, the event will feature Dame Nicola Dandridge DBE and Dr Omar Khan, two very significant individuals in higher education and equality.

Creating an accessible Library – planning permission granted for a new entrance

Brighton & Hove City Council have approved our designs to create a new accessible main entrance to our Library. The approved plans honour the iconic design of sir Basil Spence whilst creating a modern, accessible entrance that will meet the needs and expectations of our community.

Win a brand-new MacBook Air with Santander Universities

Our partners at Santander Universities are giving away 10 brand new MacBook Air laptops. All students at UK universities can enter, including undergraduates, postgraduates, part-time and full-time students. You do not need to bank with Santander to get involved. Enter by 29 February for your chance to win.

With best wishes,

 
Kate

Professor Kate O’Riordan, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Education and Students)