President's weekly update
18 April 2024
Senate meeting
We had a pre-Senate briefing by Professor Nalin Thakkar, Vice-President for Social Responsibility, on progress towards meeting our targets for environmental sustainability and carbon reduction, and the challenges of cost and disruption but a strong commitment.
At the main meeting we had regular reports from the Academic and Standards Committees for Research and for Teaching, from each of the Policy Vice-Presidents and from me. Senate also received an update on progress with the Student Experience Programme evaluation.
We had extended discussion of the motions from the School Boards in Environment, Education and Development and Arts Languages and Cultures proposing that we terminate relations with any organisations that they feel are supporting Israel. We reflected on the recent escalation of the conflict in the Middle East which is a major cause for concern. We again urge tolerance and mutual respect of the range of views held on our campus about this very distressing situation. Many opportunities for support are available.
There were many strong and quite diverse views expressed with no conclusion reached from the Senate. Nalin stressed the need for us to have an honest and healthy dialogue with mutual dignity, tolerance, and civility, and to guard the academic freedom of all our staff.
Board Audit and Risk (ARC) and Remuneration Committees
ARC received reports on international student recruitment, and internal and external audits. It also reviewed the Strategic Risk Register including consideration of the risks of operational failure and had an update on public interest disclosures.
We have two separate remuneration committees, one considers my salary, which I do not attend, while the second considered the salaries of senior staff, gender, ethnicity and disability pay gaps and succession planning for senior roles.
Meeting with our International Advisory Board
Our Board, chaired by Rory Brooks, which advises us on all aspects of our international activities, met by video. We told them about the ongoing strength of our international academic and industrial partnerships, the many visits as part of our international strategy and fundraising campaign this year, our Bicentenary events and the current position on recruitment of international students. The latter looks reasonable at this point, especially compared to many in the sector, but we expressed concern about the possible outcome of the Migration Advisory Committee review of the Graduate Route visa which is due to report in mid-May. We continue to argue for the importance of the Graduate Route.
Renewing our partnership with Boots on skin research
It was a great pleasure to present at an event to mark another five-year agreement with Boots skincare following 18 years of collaboration, over 100 publications and many awards and further research income. Senior staff from Boots and many university staff attended.
Trafford regeneration task force
I attended the first meeting of the task force at Old Trafford, chaired by Lord Sebastian Coe. This was mainly about introductions and scoping the project. The task force will be advisory not decision making.
Wellbeing survey
You will have received, or soon will do, an invitation to complete a short survey on wellbeing. Please complete this as it is very important.
Duncan Ivison – reflections on his recent visit
You may wish to read a very positive blog by my successor, Duncan, about the time he spent in Manchester just before Easter as part of his familiarisation. He had a packed schedule but clearly gained much from the visit, which he also found very enjoyable and welcoming…and we very much enjoyed spending time with him!
Nancy Rothwell, President and Vice-Chancellor