President's Weekly Update
27 February 2014
The University of Manchester and the University of Melbourne share many common features - a number of existing collaborations and some history (my predecessor, Professor Alan Gilbert, was Vice-Chancellor of Melbourne). As a result of discussions I have been having with Melbourne’s current Vice-Chancellor, Professor Glyn Davies, we have decided to establish a joint travel fund to allow visits of staff in both directions to consider new collaborations or build on existing ones. For details of the scheme, please see:
This week I visited two of the Research Institutes in the Faculty of Medical and Human Sciences. In the Institute of Human Development meeting, we discussed its very recent external review, which sounded positive. I met a large and lively group of PhD students and we talked about publishing, research careers and the importance of communication. I recommended a great book written by a friend of mine on science communication, called ‘Crackle and Fizz,’ and of course my own book on succeeding in science!
At the Institute of Cardiovascular studies, we discussed the value of Masters programmes, how to develop interdisciplinary teams across disciplines and University structures and how to support and mentor very promising members of academic staff. They had also had a very helpful and positive recent external review, with some good suggestions. One issue brought up by the review and by some staff was the need for integrated delivery of cardiovascular clinical services in Manchester.
In the Faculty of Life Sciences, we heard about recent successes and future ambition for Manchester Industrial Biotechnology (MIB), led by Professor Nigel Scrutton. The large and vocal group of students were incredibly positive about their education, the staff and the facilities - and praised our Careers Service. In the open meeting with staff, we covered several topics including what is distinctive about the University and how do we best promote what we are good at. And I got very nice cake!
Congratulations to The University of Manchester Library which has won the Facilities Project category in the 2014 Guardian University Awards for the development and launch of the Alan Gilbert Learning Commons. The whole project was a great example of cross-University working, in particular with colleagues in the Directorate of Estates and Facilities and Communications and Marketing. Another key feature was partnership working with students, who were involved in all aspects of the project.
Last week I met staff in the Directorate of Research and Business Engagement Support Services led by Dr Andrew Walsh. Now that submission to the Research Excellence Framework is completed, the team is able to get back to its more normal activities which span research strategy support, engagement and contracts with external partners including industry, support for Manchester Doctoral College, research ethics and governance. At one of our regular meetings with the University of Manchester Students’ Union Executive, I and senior colleagues discussed with them crime and the safety of students in Manchester, recent union initiatives, the announced boycott of marking by unions, and they asked us all to encourage students to vote in the forthcoming elections for the next Students’ Union executive positions.
I had (separate) meetings this week with Professors Richard Marais (Director of Cancer Research UK, Manchester Institute (previously the Paterson Institute), which is part of the University) and Nic Jones (Director of the Manchester Cancer Research Centre and Chief Scientist at Cancer Research UK). We have had many recent successes in cancer, with major awards, strong recruitment and the completion of the new University research building opposite the Christie Hospital on target for later this year. We are also seeking to recruit further research leaders in this area.
I had one of my regular catch-ups with Professor John Brooks, Vice-Chancellor of Manchester Metropolitan University, which focussed on developments in the Oxford Road ‘Corridor’. We also shared concerns about challenges the higher education sector is facing - notably the major and growing deficits in our pension funds.
Senior staff discussed the great value of PhD students to the University and how we ensure quantity but more important quality of our PhD students and their support. They contribute significantly to our research outputs, but we face funding challenges as external support has declined.
I have just completed the Performance and Development Reviews for all of my direct reports. I always find these meetings very helpful in deciding future priorities, looking back at what has gone well and what hasn’t (wisdom of hindsight is a great thing) and how I can help in both their current roles and their future career aspirations.
One of our research meetings focussed on how we can take forwards a potential new treatment for stroke and what we need to do (a lot!) to get to a clinical trial in stroke or sub-arachnoid haemorrhage.
Nancy Rothwell, President and Vice-Chancellor
Feedback
Please send comments to president@manchester.ac.uk
President's Weekly Update
27 February 2014
The University of Manchester and the University of Melbourne share many common features - a number of existing collaborations and some history (my predecessor, Professor Alan Gilbert, was Vice-Chancellor of Melbourne). As a result of discussions I have been having with Melbourne’s current Vice-Chancellor, Professor Glyn Davies, we have decided to establish a joint travel fund to allow visits of staff in both directions to consider new collaborations or build on existing ones. For details of the scheme, please see:
This week I visited two of the Research Institutes in the Faculty of Medical and Human Sciences. In the Institute of Human Development meeting, we discussed its very recent external review, which sounded positive. I met a large and lively group of PhD students and we talked about publishing, research careers and the importance of communication. I recommended a great book written by a friend of mine on science communication, called ‘Crackle and Fizz,’ and of course my own book on succeeding in science!
At the Institute of Cardiovascular studies, we discussed the value of Masters programmes, how to develop interdisciplinary teams across disciplines and University structures and how to support and mentor very promising members of academic staff. They had also had a very helpful and positive recent external review, with some good suggestions. One issue brought up by the review and by some staff was the need for integrated delivery of cardiovascular clinical services in Manchester.
In the Faculty of Life Sciences, we heard about recent successes and future ambition for Manchester Industrial Biotechnology (MIB), led by Professor Nigel Scrutton. The large and vocal group of students were incredibly positive about their education, the staff and the facilities - and praised our Careers Service. In the open meeting with staff, we covered several topics including what is distinctive about the University and how do we best promote what we are good at. And I got very nice cake!
Congratulations to The University of Manchester Library which has won the Facilities Project category in the 2014 Guardian University Awards for the development and launch of the Alan Gilbert Learning Commons. The whole project was a great example of cross-University working, in particular with colleagues in the Directorate of Estates and Facilities and Communications and Marketing. Another key feature was partnership working with students, who were involved in all aspects of the project.
Last week I met staff in the Directorate of Research and Business Engagement Support Services led by Dr Andrew Walsh. Now that submission to the Research Excellence Framework is completed, the team is able to get back to its more normal activities which span research strategy support, engagement and contracts with external partners including industry, support for Manchester Doctoral College, research ethics and governance. At one of our regular meetings with the University of Manchester Students’ Union Executive, I and senior colleagues discussed with them crime and the safety of students in Manchester, recent union initiatives, the announced boycott of marking by unions, and they asked us all to encourage students to vote in the forthcoming elections for the next Students’ Union executive positions.
I had (separate) meetings this week with Professors Richard Marais (Director of Cancer Research UK, Manchester Institute (previously the Paterson Institute), which is part of the University) and Nic Jones (Director of the Manchester Cancer Research Centre and Chief Scientist at Cancer Research UK). We have had many recent successes in cancer, with major awards, strong recruitment and the completion of the new University research building opposite the Christie Hospital on target for later this year. We are also seeking to recruit further research leaders in this area.
I had one of my regular catch-ups with Professor John Brooks, Vice-Chancellor of Manchester Metropolitan University, which focussed on developments in the Oxford Road ‘Corridor’. We also shared concerns about challenges the higher education sector is facing - notably the major and growing deficits in our pension funds.
Senior staff discussed the great value of PhD students to the University and how we ensure quantity but more important quality of our PhD students and their support. They contribute significantly to our research outputs, but we face funding challenges as external support has declined.
I have just completed the Performance and Development Reviews for all of my direct reports. I always find these meetings very helpful in deciding future priorities, looking back at what has gone well and what hasn’t (wisdom of hindsight is a great thing) and how I can help in both their current roles and their future career aspirations.
One of our research meetings focussed on how we can take forwards a potential new treatment for stroke and what we need to do (a lot!) to get to a clinical trial in stroke or sub-arachnoid haemorrhage.
Nancy Rothwell, President and Vice-Chancellor
Feedback
Please send comments to president@manchester.ac.uk