A new approach to University leadership
26 Nov 2024
A message from President and Vice-Chancellor, Duncan Ivison
From January 2025, we’re making a major change to how decisions are made at our University by introducing a new executive structure. We hope this simpler model will make decision-making clearer, faster, and more transparent, setting us up for success over the next decade.
What’s changing?
- The current leadership structure, which includes the Senior Leadership Team (SLT), the Planning and Resources Committee (PRC), the Finance and Capital Planning Sub-committee (FCPSC), and the People and Organisational Development Committee (PODC), will be replaced.
- From 1 January 2025, a single decision-making body - the University Executive - will take on the responsibilities of these groups.
What it means for you
Transparency and accountability: Minutes from University Executive meetings will be accessible on StaffNet, and a regular report will be presented at Senate meetings. The aim is to make decisions clear, accountable, and open to scrutiny.
Fewer layers, faster action: By streamlining the number of committees and holding weekly University Executive meetings, we hope to eliminate unnecessary delays and enable quicker responses to emerging challenges and opportunities. This is about moving with purpose and agility to advance our strategic goals. But in doing so, our aim is also to create more time for regular consideration of long-term strategic issues vital to our University’s future.
Stronger engagement with students and staff: Quarterly strategic review meetings will include the Union Affairs Officer from the University of Manchester Students’ Union (UMSU) and a Senate representative. I also want members of the University executive to engage more frequently in a wide variety of fora across the university, so that colleagues have a chance to ask questions and better understand the wide range of issues and challenges we are working through.
Portfolios
From 1 January 2025, Professor Colette Fagan will combine the international portfolio with her research strategy portfolio, leveraging her extensive experience in leading global engagement and institutional research collaborations. Professor Richard Jones will assume responsibility for the innovation portfolio, building on his existing work in policy, knowledge exchange and industry partnerships. Both Professors Fagan and Jones are well placed to build on the strong foundations laid by Professor Luke Georghiou and continue advancing the University’s strategic priorities in these vital areas.
Duncan Ivison
President and Vice-Chancellor