President's weekly update
23 February 2023
Reopening of our fabulous Museum
Our Museum reopened after an impressive £15m refurbishment. It has expanded space, new South Asia, Chinese Culture and Belonging Galleries and access is now via new main doors on Oxford Road. The Museum has received huge press coverage, locally, nationally and internationally. I spoke to around 700 guests about how the Museum contributes to each one of our three core goals and is an integral part of our activities. This is due to the hard work of so many people, but most of all the amazing Esme Ward, Director of the Museum and her wonderful team.
Pause in industrial action
UCU has indicated that strike action is suspended this week and next week while negotiations between UCEA, which represents employers, and the unions continue on pay. In a separate issue under dispute, the pension trustee for many of our staff has indicated that while we need to await the next formal valuation, which is due to complete in June, the interim information suggests that the financial position is much improved. The Russell Group has published a response. Discussions are also ongoing on other aspects of working conditions.
A short trip to Hong Kong
After nearly three and a half years since my last visit, it was fantastic to make a short trip (not much more than 48 hours, but with numerous meetings packed in) to Hong Kong. We have a great Hong Kong Foundation which helps us with philanthropy, and as usual I received an incredibly warm welcome. I also met Professor Rocky Tuan, the President of the Chinese University of Hong Kong with which we have had a successful partnership for several years, promoting collaboration, staff exchanges and joint PhD studentships. I returned on the morning of the Museum event reopening, which overcame any thoughts of jet lag.
Board of Governors
The briefing session was on the Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, after which the Board fed back very positive comments. At the main meeting, in addition to usual business and reports we had an excellent presentation from Professor Mike Shaver on Sustainable Futures and his research on plastics.
We then held a joint meeting of our Board and Senate to discuss and approve the processes for academic assurance for teaching and research and hear other comments and questions from Senate members.
Hearing from staff
Senior colleagues and I met staff in strategic planning and change, where we discussed the challenges of change programmes which are essential to improve our services and processes and save time for staff, but which also bring challenges where practices have to change to realise improvements.
Recognising our leading researchers
We held an event for about 45 of our leading researchers from across the University. We covered a wide range of topics including supporting researchers, research teams and research leaders. I was asked what I would advise. I said focus on quality over quantity.
External meetings and engagement
I attended a meeting of the UK Investment Council which considers ways to increase foreign investment into the UK. It is chaired by Lord Dominic Johnson and most of the members are CEOs of companies. We heard presentations from the Prime Minister and the Chancellor of the Exchequer, then we agreed the establishment of a number of sub-groups.
I met Duncan Johnson, the CEO of Northern Gritstone, the venture capital investment organisations set up between us and the universities of Leeds and Sheffield. Northern Gritstone has raised £215m (at first close) and has now started to invest in companies, including several from our staff and students.
Nancy Rothwell, President and Vice-Chancellor