Week 6 newsletter

?? Welcome to the sixth newsletter of the 2024/25 academic year—and our last one before reading week! I hope you've enjoyed the first six weeks at university. This time can fly by, bringing excitement and new experiences, but it can also feel overwhelming. From academic pressures to the challenges of moving away from home, it’s normal to feel anxious or stressed.

If you’re facing any issues, remember: you’re not alone. Whether the concerns are big or small, reach out to your personal tutor, me (as your programme lead), or Student Services in the library. We’re all here to help.

Attendance

As we approach reading week, I'll be reviewing attendance as your programme lead. This is important for a couple of reasons. Academically, attending taught sessions generally has a positive impact, but low attendance can also be a sign that you may need support. If you’re not able to come to us directly, this helps us know when to reach out.

Attendance also offers more than textbook material—it's where we explore real-world examples and discuss employability topics that will make you stand out as a graduate.

?? News Highlights

Don’t forget: You can access the Financial Times for FREE through the University of Plymouth! It’s a great resource for research. More details are available on our programme page on the DLE.

Here are some key stories this week:

• Super Micro Computer shares drop by one-third after EY resigns as auditor - See what the impact is when your auditor resigns, without completing their audit as they have decided they cannot trust management! - ?Read more on the FT.
• What ‘Monzo millionaires’ can teach us about share options – Have you heard of share options and how they can benefit employees? Read more about staff becoming millionaires on the Financial Times.
• KPMG and ACCA launch pioneering ESG programme– ESG is only becoming more important, as is a great opportunity for you to stand out in your career. Read more here.

?? Lunchtime Club

We had a great session this week on additional learning resources available to UoP students. From LinkedIn Learning to Bloomberg, we covered various ways to upskill and make your CV shine. For those who couldn’t attend, check out the handout on our programme page.

?Video tips

Back to my favourite topic of communication, here’s a question for you.

If we have a meeting at 12 o’clock and I ask to move it forward by two hours, what time is our meeting now? Have a look at my video to see why the answer may change, and how good communication can deal with this issue Watch it here on TikTok or Instagram.

I’ve also done a recap video from a recent lecture looking at audit risks. What are they, and what types of risks do we consider? Watch it here on TikTok or Instagram.

Staff office hours

All staff (including the Head of School) are now posting their office hours on their doors and module pages. These are guaranteed times, though we’re often available beyond those hours. If you’d like to meet, feel free to drop by during the posted times or reach out to arrange another time that suits you.

Finally, don't forget to join our LinkedIn group! It’s a great place to find job postings, news, and other updates. Those of you completing Enhance Your Future this week I hope you’ve seen some of the benefits of LinkedIn too.

If you have any questions or need support, please reach out to me or your personal tutor—we’re looking forward to hearing from you!

Feedback can always be given anonymously via this form.

Kind regards Ben