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Learning at Work Week

Learning at Work Week 2025 takes place from 12-16 May

We are excited to celebrate another year of continuous learning at Queen Mary. The aim of this national campaign is to deepen our understanding, knowledge and engagement in lifelong learning. This year’s theme, Get Connected, is all about building stronger links – with each other, with new ideas, and with our own personal and professional growth journeys.

Discover the full LAWW programme below – and don’t forget to sign up for the live sessions and subscribe to the OPD Newsletter to get daily updates with the resources mentioned below and extra tips and learning opportunities throughout the week.

Why Continuous Learning?

At Queen Mary, learning is at the heart of who we are. Our mission is to create a truly inclusive environment where students and staff flourish, reach their full potential, and are proud to be part of the University. Continuous learning plays a vital role in that mission. By encouraging curiosity, building confidence, and fostering adaptability, learning empowers us to grow both personally and professionally. It allows us to deepen our understanding of the world, form stronger connections with others, and engage meaningfully with the diverse perspectives that drive innovation. 

In addition to the opportunities offered by OPD, remember that there’s a wealth of learning resources available through other training providers, such as Queen Mary Academy and the Technology Enhanced Learning Team (TELT). 

Continuous Learning and Mental Health

Research indicates that continuous learning doesn’t just support our careers, it can also boost our mental health. So it’s a happy coincidence that it is also Mental Health Awareness Week, with this year’s theme being Community 

What's happening during LAWW?

We've put together a week of opportunities to help you grow, connect, and take charge of your development. 

We’ll be sharing more details and additional learning opportunities each day via our OPD Newsletter (if you haven't subscribed yet, now’s the perfect time!). In the meantime, make sure you sign up for the live sessions via the links below. 

We look forward to welcoming you to this week of learning. If you have any questions or are curious to learn more about any of the initiatives – please visit our OPD pages or contact us. 

When  Theme  What to expect 

Monday
12 May

 Get Connected to Your Development Opportunities  Kick off LAWW by discovering how OPD can support your learning journey at QM. Plus, throughout the week, we’re offering 1-2-1 OPD and Apprenticeship Surgeries where you can discuss your specific development goals with our OPD Specialists. Book your 1-2-1 here. 

Tuesday
13 May

 Raise Your Mental Health Awareness  Join our Mental Health Awareness workshop to gain an understanding of the signs and symptoms of poor mental health and learn how to support others with mental illness. Sign up here (or express your interest for future dates). 

Wednesday
14 May

 Explore the Power of Learning Through Others  Discover the benefits of learning from others through self-guided learning, including mentoring, coaching, work shadowing, Communities of Practice and more. Experience the impact of coaching firsthand by registering for a Coaching Taster session. 

Thursday
15 May

Cultivate a Reflective Practice  We'll share a self-reflection guide, containing practical tips and models to help you turn everyday experiences into valuable learning moments and develop your own reflective routine.  

Friday
16 May

 Take Charge of Your Career  We’ll share valuable resources to help you take charge of your career development, including an opportunity to join our Lunch & Learn: Pathways to Leadership. Sign up here. 

Sign up for the OPD Newsletter to receive daily updates containing the above resources and additional development opportunities throughout LAWW!

 

Learning at Work Week – Day 1: Get Connected to Your Development Opportunities

Welcome to Learning at Work Week 2025! 

We’re kicking off the week by helping you discover the many ways OPD can support your learning and development. Whether you're looking to build new skills, explore career opportunities, or simply spark fresh ideas for your personal and professional growth, today is all about the opportunities available to support you in your development. 

Watch our short video – We’re encouraging everyone to set aside at least two hours this week to reflect on their development. This video explains why that’s important, offers ideas on how to use the time effectively, and highlights where you can find support, including the range of opportunities offered by OPD.

Explore the Flourishing at Queen Mary Toolkit – This toolkit is designed to support you in flourishing at work – helping make meaningful contributions in your current role and/or support you in thinking ahead to your next role.

Book a 1-2-1 OPD or Apprenticeship Surgery – Do you have specific development goals or questions that aren’t addressed in our video? Our OPD specialists are offering individual consultations throughout LAWW where you can get tailored advice and explore the right opportunities for you.

Book a Coaching taster session – Coaching can be a powerful tool for growth, offering a space to reflect, gain clarity, and explore new possibilities. Since this week is also International Coaching Week, our Coaching Network has kindly offered to run taster sessions, giving you the chance to experience the benefits firsthand.

If you have any questions or are curious to learn more about any of the initiatives above – please visit Organisational and Professional Development or contact us.

Learning at Work Week – Day 2: Raise Your Mental Health Awareness

This week is also Mental Health Awareness Week, and this year’s theme Community aligns closely with our LAWW focus on Getting Connected. That’s why today’s topic is how we can build stronger, more supportive connections with our colleagues and ourselves by raising awareness of mental health. 

Take 10 Together at Work – A poster with tips on how to take just 10 minutes to open a supportive conversation with a colleague about their mental health. 

Triggers and Signs of Mental Ill Health – This poster helps you spot the signs that someone might need support with their mental health. 

The Staff Wellbeing page offers information and resources on how to promote your own wellbeing, as well as support colleagues, including details on the Employee Assistance Programme, Mental Health First Aiders, and more. 

Stress, Resilience and Strengths workshop – This session is taking place tomorrow, Wednesday 14 May, 10:00-13:00. Why not book a last-minute place or express your interest for future dates? 

If you have any questions or are curious to learn more about any of the initiatives above – please visit Organisational and Professional Development or contact us.

 

Learning at Work Week – Day 3: Explore the Power of Learning Through Others 

Today, we’re focusing on the power of learning through others – because learning doesn’t just happen in the training room. Often it is meaningful connections that fuel our biggest growth, whether that be through shadowing someone in a different role, gaining insight from a mentor, or joining a Community of Practice to share knowledge and ideas. 

Here’s how you can start to get connected through social learning: 

Watch this LinkedIn Learning video to see how connecting with others can boost your development. (Did you know our institutional license gives you access to over 5,000 courses on LinkedIn Learning?) . 

How could you use the power of learning through others to enhance your development? Consider the self-guided learning opportunities below and use the provided links to learn more about each of them: 

If you have any questions or are curious to learn more about any of the initiatives above – please visit Organisational and Professional Development or contact us.

 

 

Learning at Work Week – Day 4: Cultivate a Reflective Practice 

Today, we’re encouraging you to pause and reflect, because doing so is a great opportunity for learning. Reflective practice is more than just thinking about what happened; it’s a structured way to make sense of experiences, understand yourself better, and using them as a tool for growth. 

Explore our guide on Cultivating a Reflective Practice. Whether you’re new to reflection or are looking to deepen your practice, this guide introduces practical tips and key models to help you develop and deepen your own reflective routine.  

Want to learn more about the topic? Why not explore some of the reflective practice resources on LinkedIn Learning. 

If you have any questions or are curious to learn more about any of the initiatives above – please visit Organisational and Professional Development or contact us.

 

Learning at Work Week – Day 5: Take Charge of Your Career 

Today is the final day of Learning at Work Week 2025, and it's all about taking charge of your career development. Whether you're exploring new opportunities or looking to grow in your current role, this is the perfect time to reflect on where you are professionally and envision where you’d like to go next. 

To help you reflect on your next steps, explore the resources below: 

Lunch & Learn: Pathways to Leadership – While leadership roles aren’t the only way to progress your career, they are a path many consider. Today’s Lunch & Learn explores Pathways to Leadership, our suite of programmes to support you at each stage of your management career, no matter your role. The session is taking place at 12:30-13:30 today, and you can still sign up if you haven’t already. 

Introduction to Career Planning for Professional Services Staff – Join us on 17 June for an interactive workshop that will help you clarify your career path, assess skills, discover development opportunities, and identify resources to help you move forward in whatever direction your career aspirations take you. 

Professional Services Career Development –  Explore our Staff Guide, which is intended to help you understand and support your personal journey at QM, while our Manager’s Guide provides guidance on how to work with and support staff in their career development. Plus, to learn more about the diversity of career journeys of Queen Mary staff, explore the PS Career Development Case Studies. 

Appraisals – The annual appraisal window is now open! This is a great opportunity to celebrate your achievements, identify goals for the year ahead, and have a meaningful conversation about your development and career aspirations. For additional support and guidance, please explore the Appraisal page and training on CPD – and don’t forget to schedule your appraisal meeting now. 

Thank you for taking part in Learning at Work Week 2025. We hope you found the resources and sessions useful and are feeling inspired to take ownership of your learning journey. For more opportunities and further development options, please visit Organisational and Professional Development or contact us. 

 

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