Update from the Dean
27 Jun 2017
Latest from Ian Greer
The Manchester 2020 announcement on 19 June, which signalled the opening up of the voluntary severance scheme to a larger number of academic colleagues, has undoubtedly generated a great deal of uncertainty and anxiety across the Faculty, particularly for all those who have now been placed ‘at risk’.
Whilst I appreciate the issues, it is important for me to reiterate the FLT’s ongoing and fullest commitment to the development of the Manchester 2020 Programme in order to achieve an internationally leading position in key areas of teaching and research. We are on a good trajectory with much success. However, this can only be maintained with investment in key areas. Thus the changes we are making are absolutely essential if we are to remain not only internationally competitive, but internationally leading in research and continue to deliver teaching of the very highest quality. In addition, the decision to create a larger ‘at risk’ group will give us the additional flexibility we need to secure the best possible outcome, for both the individuals who wish to take up voluntary severance and for the Faculty as a whole.
That said, we all now have a key role to play supporting each other throughout the ongoing consultation period; and I would urge all those directly affected to speak with their line manager, Head of Division, Head of School, or a member of the Faculty HR Team to discuss the options now open to them.
In other M2020 news, our President, Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell, attended the Faculty Leadership Forum earlier this week to provide an update on the consultation process and to listen to concerns raised by our Heads of Division, Research Domain Directors and senior PSS managers. This was a lively and very enlightening session, and Dame Nancy was able to provide some useful insights into the wider M2020 programme and how best to maintain employee engagement as we progress through the consultation period.
This week I also attended two meetings on key research areas. On Tuesday I chaired a meeting on the Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) where we began the process of setting priorities and identifying research themes for BRC 2022 – the next phase of the BRC’s development – to ensure that we capitalise on the current BRC’s research strengths. There is as substantial opportunity for engagement across the Faculty in these developments such as in chronobiology, cell matrix research and nanomedicine.
The following day I attended the CRUK MI quinquennial review with the Vice-Chancellor. We highlighted to the review group both the centre’s achievements and the opportunities for cancer research set in the context of the Faculty and University as a whole; the NHS partnerships, where there are outstanding scientific connections; and the role the centre plays in the health innovation landscape for Greater Manchester. We also set out the support from the University to address the challenges CRUK MI faces as a consequence of the recent fire at the Paterson building.
Later today I will be attending the University’s Distinguished Achievement Awards ceremony when the President and Vice-Chancellor will present the recently announced winners with their medals and trophies. I’m particularly looking forward to congratulating our FBMH winners: research technician Nicola Begley; SHS’s Professor Wendy McCracken, who has been named Teacher of the Year; our Researcher of the Year Dr Alex Heazell, who is based in the Division of Developmental Biology and Medicine; and last but not least our student winners – Amy Hilton and Michael Daniels – who have been named UG and PG Students of the year respectively.
Ian Greer
Vice-President and Dean
Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health