Report into Student Experience Programme released

12 Mar 2025

Evaluation of people and structures element of the Programme concludes

The report into the Student Experience Programme (SEP) has now been released.

For those of you not familiar with it, SEP was an initiative to create a revised staffing model and ways of working, alongside new technology and processes, to improve the experience of our students and colleagues.

Since I arrived, I have heard from many of you who found SEP to be a deeply frustrating and difficult process, and it’s clear from the report that there are important lessons to be learned. I also know that many colleagues worked with care and dedication to deliver SEP. This is why the evaluation report is so important to me.

I’m especially mindful that, behind every recommendation, there are genuine experiences and concerns that have informed them. My aim is to use these insights to make meaningful, practical improvements to the way we deliver projects now, and in the future, especially as we develop our Manchester 2035 strategy, which will guide us over the next ten years. We’re already doing so, and you’ll hear about that soon, but there is more to do.

I am grateful to Professor Allan Pacey, Dr Sandra Crosbie and the rest of the committee, who led over 220 hours of engagement sessions with students and colleagues from across the University. I am also grateful to the more than 650 colleagues who submitted online feedback, which helped produce a genuinely comprehensive review.

Next steps

The evaluation was considered and discussed at the Strategic Change Sub-Committee yesterday, and it will be discussed shortly by the University Executive, Senate, and the Board of Governors. An open meeting will also be held on 8 April. This will provide an opportunity to discuss the findings and recommendations and ask any questions you may have.

I encourage you to read the full report - it is comprehensive, thoughtful, and a direct result of your honest feedback.

Thank you again to everyone who contributed to the evaluation report. The University Executive and I are committed to doing everything we can to continue to improve the support we provide to our staff and students.

Duncan

Professor Duncan Ivison President & Vice-Chancellor