Dear All

We hope you have enjoyed this week of graduation ceremonies which is a very joyful way of spending the penultimate week at work before we break for Christmas. The lights in the quad looked gorgeous for all the graduates and their family and friends.

With the way Christmas has fallen this year, and the additional closure day on Monday 23 December, we can enjoy a longer run-up than usual away from work before Christmas Day. Whether you are working up until Friday 20th or finishing off before then, please enjoy the break. We know it has been a busy and, at times, challenging year, and we thank you for your continued hard work.

It has been a momentous year for the University with the celebration of our bicentenary, and a year of change with our new President and Vice-Chancellor Duncan taking over the reins from Nancy. We have also been lucky to celebrate many outstanding successes over 2024 across the University and in our Faculty and Schools. You have all contributed to these achievements and we appreciate everything you have accomplished.

You can see just a few highlights of the year in our short festive video. We do not have space to include everything of course. Hopefully, it gives a flavour of the fantastic work and activities which have supported our research, teaching and learning, social responsibility and professional services objectives, and much more!

The festive season is also the perfect time to thank a colleague for their help over the year. Whatever their contribution, we know that it can mean a great deal, and major milestones are the culmination of many smaller acts. Please reach out to someone and acknowledge their efforts. It will be appreciated for sure.

Finally, we know how easy it can be to try to fit in more work than is possible before the break to ‘clear the decks’. Please be realistic and consider what activities can be picked up again in the new year. We should all take some time to focus on our wellbeing so we can start the holiday ready to switch off and enjoy whatever plans we have.

Once again, many thanks for your dedication, teamwork and support over the last year. We wish you all a restful Christmas and look forward to starting the new calendar year fully rested and relaxed. All the very best to you all.

Warm regards

The Faculty Leadership Team