Author Archives: louisejones

How do I stop feeling like a fraud?

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Since starting this blog we have included a number of posts on the Imposter Syndrome because the topic resonates with so many people.

‘It can happen to anyone who notches up achievements in life – at some stage, many people feel unworthy of their success. They may tell themselves they’ve just been lucky, and fear that one day they’ll be unmasked or found out’

The BBC have now posted an interesting piece under a number of headings:

  • Living a lie
  • False pretences
  • Managing your thoughts
  • How did I get here?
  • Where next?

What advice would you offer?

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International Women’s Day 2016

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Today is International Women’s Day ! There are lots of activities, events and discussions taking place today (including on campus).  The Guardian have live coverage of events around the world and are asking: “What does equality mean to you?”

On the BBC website they are posting discussion articles on a range of topics:

100 women

In pictures: Women making technology work for them

Women see little improvement in world of work – ILO

Sexism rife in textbooks, says Unesco

Call for women to speak before men at meetings

Why women can thrive in science fiction

And so much more……….. What is listed above is just a tiny snapshot of the events and discussions that are taking place.  Hopefully these will inspire you to look further….

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More women in senior university jobs, says report

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Published in the Times Higher on 2nd March, Jack Grove highlights analysis which shows an increase in the proportion of women in management or governor roles.

“The pipeline is looking quite healthy, but the real crunch is at professorial level, where only 23 per cent are women” (Norma Jarboe, director of Women Count, a not-for-profit organisation that indexes gender representation in public, private and third-sector bodies and who have published Women Count: Leaders in Higher Education 2016)

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Managing academic pressure

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Managing academic pressure ranks high on the list of priorities for many students.  Meeting deadlines, coping with assignments and preparing for exams:  all of these require strategies if a student is to be successful in managing the pressure.  It is with this in mind that the next Life Tools talk this week addresses this issue. 

Managing academic pressure  is on Thursday 10th March at 3.00pm in HUMSS G74.   There is no need to book a place – students should just come along on the day. 

Our talks receive very high ratings from your students.  The phrases  ‘‘amazing’, ‘really helpful’, ‘motivating’, ‘well worth attending’ regularly appear on our feedback forms.  Students wrote the following comments about this talk when it was given earlier in the academic year.  They sum up the reasons why students should consider coming:

 

‘It is very useful and gives a fresh perspective about doing a degree’

 

‘This talk puts University work into perspective and allows you to understand that you are capable and can do it.’

 

‘ It all makes sense and many people will be able to relate to what is said’

 

‘Very good tips that will help’ 

 

This is one of the ‘academic tools’ talks in the Life Tools series run by Student Wellbeing.  All students are welcome to attend.

Life Tools Talk - Managing Academic Pressure

 

 

The Wellbeing Café – ‘How good enough is ‘good enough’?’

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Feeling like nothing you do is quite good enough? Struggling to get started with assignments? Seeing others as better or more successful? How good enough do you have to be to be ‘good enough’?

Come along to this informal session with Odelia from Student Wellbeing (1.15 to 2pm) looking  at how to get the best out of yourself without having to put yourself though the wringer.

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FAIRTRADE FORTNIGHT LUNCHTIME SEMINAR

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On International Women’s Day, Tuesday 8th March 2016, the University is delighted to welcome guest speaker Mona El-Sayed for the Fairtrade Fortnight lunchtime seminar.  Mona El-Sayed will talk about the role of women in the Fairtrade movement based on her own experience setting up FT Egypt during turbulent times. The seminar will take place from 12.30pm – 1:30pm in HBS G15.  Everyone is welcome.

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Professor Roberta Gilchrist voted Archaeologist of the Year

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Professor Roberta Gilchrist (Research Dean for Heritage and Creativity), has become the first woman to win the Current Archaeology award for Archaeologist of the Year.

The award recognises Roberta’s recent research on the archaeology of Glastonbury Abbey, in which the reassessment of archaeological records revealed that several of the Abbey’s best known archaeological ‘facts’ were in fact myths themselves, perpetuated by excavators influenced by the abbey’s legends. Roberta’s research attracted widespread attention from both academic circles and international press alike.

The winners were announced at Current Archaeology Live! 2016, with each category winner determined by public vote. On receiving her award, Roberta said: “I am truly honoured to have been voted Current Archaeology’s Archaeologist of the Year 2016 and I would like to thank the Current Archaeology readers and wider public who voted for me. I’m delighted that my work on Glastonbury Abbey has captured the public imagination. I am particularly proud to be the first woman voted Archaeologist of the Year and to see that women dominated all categories of the Current Archaeology Awards 2016.”

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International Women’s Day

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International Women’s Day #IWD2016 (March 8) is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity.

campaign theme: #PledgeForParity

‘Everyone – men and women – can pledge to take a concrete step to help achieve gender parity more quickly – whether to help women and girls achieve their ambitions, call for gender-balanced leadership, respect and value difference, develop more inclusive and flexible cultures or root out workplace bias. Each of us can be a leader within our own spheres of influence and commit to take pragmatic action to accelerate gender parity’

How will you mark the day?

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Look after your Mate

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In conjunction with ‘Student Minds’, the Counselling Service are offering a special 2-hour workshop on ‘University Mental Health Day’ 3rd March between 12 -2pm (HUMSS G10) to give you the skills and confidence to support friends who may be struggling with their mental health.   

The Workshop includes key practical tips for supporting a friend:

● Spotting signs in a friend
● How to start a conversation
● How to support a friend: Listening and learning
● Signposting to support
● Looking after your own wellbeing as a supporter

 

This workshop is particularly suitable for any students who already have or are thinking of volunteering for a welfare role within the University or are thinking of a career in one of the ‘caring’ professions such as the health service, social work, therapists, health visitors, teaching or human resources.  It is open to all, but you need to register for a place.

To sign up, please register here:  

http://goo.gl/forms/QNNvSyTv8n

For more information, contact: counselling@reading.ac.uk or visit the Counselling & Wellbeing’s Blackboard Pages.

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THE WELLBEING CAFE

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Deadlines looming? Exams to prepare for? Social commitments to make? Worried about fitting it all in? Come along to this friendly seminar (1.15 to 2pm) to get some tips on how to manage your time effectively, study ‘smarter’ and avoid procrastination.  Sonia from Study Advice will be sharing some useful tips, advice and planners to help you ‘make time for everything’ and meet those assessment deadlines.

Drop by and have a coffee…  Wednesday 2nd March 1 to 2.30  In the RUSU Study (behind Cafe Mondiale)

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