We discussed the evaluation of the implementation of the ‘people and structures’ element of the Student Experience Programme (SEP). You can get involved by completing the survey which is open to all colleagues. You can also register your interest in participating in a workshop or interview by completing the short expressions of interest form. Your voice is important in this evaluation so please get involved if you want to do so. 

At the committee, we also updated members on the progress of the Teaching Sustainability project. The University’s Director of Student and Academic Services, Craig Best, has joined our Faculty Teaching Sustainability taskforce. I recently met Craig and Professor April McMahon, Vice-President for Teaching, Learning and Students, to discuss the project and our progress on reviewing programmes, pathways and course units with very low student demand.

I am delighted that the Faculty has been successful in securing £2.73m in funding from the University’s Strategic Investment Reserve Fund (SIRF) to significantly expand and enhance our research and teaching capabilities over the next five years in the critical areas of AI and security. We are matching the SIRF award with £2m to appoint an interdisciplinary team of six senior lecturer and lecturer-level academics, six post-doctoral research associates and six PhD students.  

The investment is about building capacity and we hope to appoint across all four Schools if we can. The team’s work will be coordinated by the Centre for Digital Trust and Society based in SoSS. The funding will support further research projects and industry funding and existing and new teaching and learning programmes. The investment is designed to retain our status as a UK leader in cyber security and responsible AI research and teaching.

I would like to offer my congratulations to four colleagues on securing Leverhulme Research Fellowships. They are Doctor Noelle Gallagher (English and American Studies, SALC), Dr Gareth Gavin (Creative Writing, SALC), Dr Jo Laycock (History, SALC) and Professor Sue Heath (Sociology, SoSS). I am very grateful to our PS colleagues at Faculty and School levels who have facilitated this academic success with both the Leverhulme Trust and the British Academy. 

I am incredibly pleased to announce that six colleagues and students have won Distinguished Achievement Awards. The awards, given annually by Nancy, recognise outstanding staff and student contributions across a range of categories. 

Our Faculty winners are:

• Professor Rob Ford (SoSS) – Researcher of the year
• Dr Henriette Pleiger (SALC) – Postgraduate researcher of the year
• Dr Reza Salehnejad (AMBS) – Teacher of the year
• Lida Koutsou (AMBS) – Undergraduate student of the year
• Tillie Quattrone (SALC) – Postgraduate taught student of the year

In addition, Christopher Kitchen, SEED Doctoral Services Administrator (Educational & Child Psychology Lead), has received one of three individual professional services and cultural institutions awards offered across the University. The SEED Ethics Administration team; Holly Crossley, Institute Administrator, Manchester Institute of Innovation Research (AMBS); and Joel Loutfi, AMBS Teaching and Learning Manager, were also highly commended. 

Well done, all!

Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to thank Niqui Ellis, our Faculty Head of Planning, Compliance and Governance, who is moving on to pastures new after more than 20 years at the University. She has been instrumental in driving our strategic development and leading on planning, governance and compliance. She has been a joy to work alongside, too. 

Enjoy the bank holiday week with some extra rest and relaxation.