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President's weekly update

29 June 2017

Senate took place this week and there was a very considered discussion about the proposed staffing changes in some areas of the University as part of the M2020 Programme. These changes form one part of a much larger programme of activity which aims to improve the quality of our research and student outcomes, reshape our student profile in some areas, improve efficiency and effectiveness and create the financial headroom to invest in strategic priorities and ensure financial sustainability. Senate rejected a proposal to pause our M2020 plans. You can find out more about the full set of projects within the Manchester 2020 Programme at:

I know that this is an anxious and unsettling time for those staff affected by these proposed staffing changes and we are doing all that we can with a view to seeking to achieve the required reductions through voluntary means. This includes widening the pool of staff eligible to apply for voluntary severance in some areas and giving preferential access to those in affected areas to vacancies. The number of reductions in posts has already been reduced and we will continue to actively explore further opportunities to do so.

If you are concerned or have questions about the proposals or the process, I would encourage you to speak with your Division Lead or Head of School, Manager, or your designated HR Partner who will be able to help and support you.

At Senate we received the paper on the review of current structures in the Faculty of Science and Engineering (FSE) which was commissioned by Professor Martin Schröder, Vice-President and Dean of FSE. You can find out more about the next steps including details of open meetings with staff at:

Professor Keith Brown, Vice-President and Dean of the Faculty of Humanities, and I attended a Board meeting in the Alliance Manchester Business School (AMBS), again to discuss the proposed M2020 staffing changes and answered many questions from a very large audience.

At Audit Committee we discussed the University’s Risk Register, noting significantly increased risks from many external and some internal factors. We also updated the Committee on impacts of the fire at the Paterson Building and the Manchester bomb.

We also held a meeting of the Board of Governors Staffing Committee to update members on ongoing consultations with the Trade Unions and staff meetings relating to the M2020 Programme proposals. Staffing Committee received much detail on the ongoing processes and Trade Union consultations and discussed these at some length.

Senior staff from Microsoft UK visited to discuss a possible partnership in health data analytics. Microsoft has some significant strengths that we could benefit from and they see huge opportunity in Manchester, especially in relation to devolution of the health budget to Greater Manchester.

Professor Ian Greer, Vice-President and Dean of the Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, and I participated in the Cancer Research UK (CRUK) quinquennial review of the CRUK Manchester Institute, which is led by Professor Richard Marais. We noted the outstanding progress of cancer research in Manchester, the recruitment of Professor Rob Bristow from Toronto to be the new Director of the Manchester Centre for Cancer Research and the strong support from the University for cancer as one of our five Research Beacons We discussed the consequences of the major fire in the Paterson Building, progress in relocating staff and facilities and plans for future developments.

Professor Brian Cox and I visited the National Graphene Institute (NGI) with a visitor from the USA who is working on graphene-based batteries. James Baker, Graphene Business Director, took us on a tour of the NGI and explained ongoing research and the next phase of development - the Graphene Engineering Innovation Centre - and then we met Professor Sir Andre Geim. There was a major event in the NGI with more than 200 representatives from 100 companies visiting and demonstrating their work on graphene. We also had on display the ‘graphene enhanced’ BAC Mono car, from Briggs Automotive - this time in Isle of Man police livery. I met Neill Briggs, the co-owner of Briggs Automotive and one of our alumni, who was keen to support students on work placements as well as continue our research on graphene enhancements to their cars.

I attended an excellent lecture by Lord Jim O’Neill, who holds an honorary professorship with us, on ‘Rising Powers and Interdependent Futures’ about the world economy and emerging nations. This was part of an Economic and Social Sciences Research Council conference which we hosted.

We have just announced a new honorary professorship for George Osborne, former Chancellor of the Exchequer. The honorary chair is in economics, but George is also keen to help us develop applications and commercialisation of graphene.