President's weekly update
22 June 2023
Update on cyber incident
We have been providing regular updates [https://www.staffnet.manchester.ac.uk/], FAQs [https://www.manchester.ac.uk/cyber-incident/] and have held staff open meetings to keep everyone updated on what we know, what we are able to say and progress on eradicating the threat. We have also provided advice on the handling of suspicious emails or phishing attempts [https://www.staffnet.manchester.ac.uk/news/display/?id=29957]. Incident management and business continuity teams and many other groups have been meeting daily and our staff and external advisors continue to work exceptionally hard. We continue to keep our Board, external partners and regulators informed as new information becomes available.
Marking and assessment boycott
Some staff who are members of UCU have been boycotting all marking and assessments, as part of a national dispute on pay. We do not yet know the final outcome, which is likely to affect only a small percentage of our students but with significant impact, though many staff are working hard to limit any adverse effect.
General Assembly
The meeting, chaired by our Chancellor Nazir Afzal, heard from Dr Julian Skyrme, Director for Social Responsibility, about our remarkable performance in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings, coming number 2 in the world [https://www.manchester.ac.uk/discover/social-responsibility/sdgs/]. I updated members on our successes, opportunities and on the
UK Investment Council: Skills driving investment
It was good to hear that people still want to invest in the UK, according to the annual report by the accountancy firm EY, discussed at the UK Investment Council meeting I attended in London. They reported that participants in the survey were particularly positive about levelling up and skills. We also heard from Grant Shapps, Secretary of State for the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, about the UK’s position on renewable energy and Lord Harrington on his review of foreign direct investment.
Equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI)
Whilst we are making progress on EDI, there is much more that we can do. I was reminded of this by our staff who are participating in the 100 Black Women Professors NOW initiative [https://www.whenequality.org/100]. I explained that this initiative is so important to us and sought their ideas on other activities and changes we could make to enhance EDI at the University.
Innovation
We have just announced that the next stage in development of Innovation District Manchester [https://www.staffnet.manchester.ac.uk/news/display/?id=29955] has been put forward to Manchester City Council. This is an important milestone in the regeneration of our North Campus, which will eventually create more than 10,000 new jobs and deliver education, apprenticeship and training opportunities for local communities.
At the Innovation Greater Manchester Board, we heard an update on current government negotiations over association with Horizon Europe and a great initiative from the Campaign for Science and Engineering (CaSE) [https://www.sciencecampaign.org.uk/what-we-do/public-opinion/public-attitudes-to-r-d/] on wider public engagement in research and innovation, which we are well placed to contribute to, and updates on our plans for an Investment Zone.
International partnerships
You may remember we have a strategic partnership with the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK). So it was a pleasure that we moved this forward in discussions with the medical school at CUHK Shenzen about possible collaborations in research and education.
Board finance committee
We updated members on our responses to, and potential impacts of, the cyber incident. The committee reviewed our current financial position, approved the budget and five-year plan for recommendation to the Board, and agreed the next stages in our student residences strategy [https://www.staffnet.manchester.ac.uk/news/display/?id=29453].
Thanking our donors
We held an event to thank some of our most generous donors and to update them on events within the University. Rory Brooks, former chair of our Global Leadership Board and currently chair of our International Advisory Board, spoke about the value of philanthropy.
Bicentenary
Importantly, we have announced the countdown [https://www.manchester.ac.uk/discover/news/launching-our-bicentenary-countdown/] to the start of our bicentenary year!
Nancy Rothwell, President and Vice-Chancellor