This award relates to our UA principles ‘Fun & Enjoyable’.
This award is for the team or individual who has ensured that, even in the toughest times, life never got too serious, and made sure that even though it was hard-work, it was always enjoyable and fun. The last year has placed exceptional demands and pressures on our Alliance teams, but it is the spirit, good humour and kind natures of those nominated for the Star Award that have kept our institutions going strong.
WINNER: Tracey John, UWE Bristol- for her energy, enthusiasm and commitment to the wellbeing of her team.
From the start of lockdown Tracey kept the team of 85 colleagues in-touch and informed, looked after everyone’s wellbeing but above all, has done so through hugely engaging and entertaining activities driven by unbounded energy, commitment and enthusiasm.
Tracey kept in-touch with her team via YouTube videos – over 50 in total. They included information and news, some serious some less so, who had done what in the team, sharing success.
She has arranged online ‘health and wellbeing’ events and runs a weekly Zoom ‘Huddle’ which attracts 80+ staff to share news and fun – a serious exercise in wellbeing and ending with the traditional online Mexican wave.
Tracey was just remarkable, keeping the team together and connected, looked out for everyone’s wellbeing, ensured the team continued to deliver across the board to the highest standards – and above all had loads of fun. Amazing energy, positivity, fantastically professional – and a bit mad.
Anglia Ruskin University admissions team– for generating team spirit, support and connectivity through virtual activities.
Over the course of the last year the Admissions Team have had fortnightly meetings on Teams which have consisted of business but fun and team building activities. Meeting themes have included a Bake Off competition with everyone baking the same item, a careers meeting where the team dressed up as the occupation they wanted to be as a child, a virtual pet show and a film character meeting and a guess the desk competition. Prizes have been sent to winners to boost morale. We have introduced fortnightly coffee mornings and held four virtual away days involving guest speakers and team building activities. An Admissions Buddy scheme was introduced where for every day for 2 weeks each person had responsibility for contacting on other person, and then after 2 weeks the buddy was changed. This has helped enhance understanding and support and keep connectivity across large team of 40 people.
Team Entrepreneurship, UWE Bristol– for developing a pioneering degree programme underpinned by experiential, team-based, self-managed entrepreneurial learning.
Team Entrepreneurship (TE) is a pioneering degree programme underpinned by experiential, team-based, self-managed entrepreneurial learning. The programme attracts many students that have not flourished in traditional education, offering a radically different approach to learning with no exams and no lectures.
Learning is centred around the Team Company, a team of up to 20 students who develop their own entrepreneurial projects and ventures. A team of nine Team Coaches, each bringing a unique set of skills and experience, supports the development of their assigned Team Company and the development of the programme as a whole.
They also have fun along the way. It’s not unusual to see the team dressed as pirates while delivering a presentation to the whole Team Entrepreneurship community! Fun is one of the team’s core values and it aims to provide a learning environment and working environment that encapsulates this for students and staff.
