Conferencing Update, February 2021 - Facilities Directorate

The Conference team have been running the international welcome services successfully since the beginning of September 2020, with over 3000 students supported to date. Services continued throughout December including providing an out-of-hours International Arrivals service and self-isolation and social support during the University closure. It is anticipated that up to 850 further students will need to be supported in the coming months based on the results of the pre-arrival survey at the end of November. Working in partnership with Leeds University Union, GFAL Deli(very) provided over 2000 self-isolation food boxes for new and returning students in University and Private accommodation, as well as providing 90 emergency food boxes for students who needed to self-isolate.

MEETinLEEDS are supporting several schools and faculties to deliver virtual conference activity during Easter and into Summer 2021. These include:

Supporting Leeds Institute of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine we will be hosting 71st Annual British Microcirculation and Vascular Biology Society Conference. Support will be offered through registration, abstract submission and providing a website.

Working with the Student Opportunity and Enhancement team MEETinLEEDS will support the British Conference of Undergraduate Research 2021 confirmed to be a fully virtual event, postponed from 2020, with expected numbers over 600. The event will utilise the online registration platform and the University of Leeds Event App.

Alongside the School of Psychology, we are hosting the British Food Group with their annual conference, pivoting from a face-to-face event in Easter 2020 to a virtual event in April 2021. We have relaunched the conference website and recently opened registration.

The Nightingale Court continues to operate on-site at Cloth Hall Court and this will remain for the spring and summer months.