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Statement from Mr Edward Astle, Chair of the Board of Governors

26 May 2017

Manchester 2020 Programme

John Owens

In the light of the many questions to members of the Board of Governors (and across the University) about the Manchester 2020 (M2020) proposals, which were outlined in an all staff communication on 10 May 2017, I wanted to affirm the Board's strong support for these and to explain more about the process that has led to them coming forward.  

The detailed plans underpinning the proposals are specific to individual faculties and parts of the Professional Support Services (PSS) and are designed to deliver a step change by one or more of the following:

  • improving the quality of our research by increasing research income and quality of research outputs and research income per member of staff; 
  • reducing student numbers on some degree programmes leading to an improvement in teaching and learning; 
  • improving the effectiveness and efficiency of certain areas of the Professional Support Services (PSS); 
  • increasing income and/or reducing costs to provide funds for investment in strategic priorities.

They have been developed in consultation with senior managers and other relevant colleagues in the University and have followed due process.  They follow extensive Board consideration of the strategic context and of the performance of the University over the past 18 months.  In particular, at the Board’s conference held in March  2016, the Board recognised  that while the University was making progress towards its 2020 goals, a big step change was needed to achieve its M2020 ambitions and to move ahead of its competitors. 

At the March 2017 conference, we then had detailed presentations and discussions on areas that required attention. Detailed plans to address these challenges were prepared by the senior leadership team, together with key colleagues in the relevant areas.  These proposals were then considered carefully by the Staffing Committee and then by the Board itself in a lengthy and detailed discussion at our meeting on 3 May 2017. Following these discussions, the proposals received the full support of the Board. 

I fully recognise that some of these proposals will cause concern to some staff.  To minimise the period of uncertainty, the Board supports the University’s efforts to proceed with consultation with the Trade Unions expeditiously and to open a targeted voluntary severance scheme as soon as possible to avoid the need for compulsory redundancy if at all possible.  The progress with these consultations and next steps will be considered further by future meetings of the Staffing Committee and the Board.

I know from my time on the Board– and now as its Chair - that this is a very good University with many, many outstanding successes. I also know that we have the potential to be a truly great University. These M2020 proposals are an important step on this journey. To this end, we can count on the highest calibre of strategic leadership from Nancy and her colleagues and they have my and the Board’s full support and confidence.