President's Weekly Update

13 March 2014

After flying back from my very short visit to Singapore last week, I travelled straight to the Russell Group of universities annual strategy meeting in Cambridge which took place on Thursday and Friday. We had in-depth discussions on the future economic outlook for the UK and the world, general political issues around the next general election, the forthcoming referendum on Scottish independence and the UK’s relationship with Europe. In addition, we focused on future student fee income and loan repayments, the assessment of research quality after the Research Excellence Framework is concluded later this year, the growing impact of regulation on the operation of universities, international students and concerns about the deficits in the pension funds for all university staff.

We had several eminent visitors who came to speak to us, including Ian Whatmore, a previous Permanent Secretary at what is now the Department of Business Innovation and Skills; Lord Falconer, a former Lord Chancellor; and David Willetts, the current Minister for Universities and Science. In spite of serious sleep deprivation, the discussions were interesting so I kept awake!

This week David Willetts visited our Jodrell Bank Observatory to deliver a speech on future government investment in science and universities. A key component of the announcement was investment of £100 million in the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) - an international collaboration bringing together radio-telescopes from across the world to massively increase their power. The SKA has its international headquarters at Jodrell Bank Observatory, so this was very good news. The Minister met a group of visiting schoolchildren (in glorious sunshine) and after his speech attended part of the SKA Board meeting. If you want an easy to read summary of SKA, I’d recommend you read an article published on Tuesday by Professor Brian Cox in the Sun newspaper!

The North West Business Leadership Team (NWBLT) held one of its regular meetings at the University. NWBLT comprises the heads of many major local businesses and universities. It is chaired by Professor Juergen Maier, who is Managing Director of Siemens UK and holds an honorary chair at this University. We discussed how business is doing across the range of sectors in the North West -which was overall extremely positive; the NWBLT’s recent report of the strengths in science, technology and innovation in the North West which will be formally launched next week; and other projects that have been completed and are ongoing.

We hosted a dinner for NWBLT members in the Living Worlds Gallery of Manchester Museum with guests from the Contact Theatre which had won the NWBLT Lever Prize. We heard about how young, creative people at the Contact Theatre can help to build networks and bring new approaches to business. The Contact Theatre asked us to host some of their most talented young creative artists and suggested that business leaders (including those leading universities) could develop creative talents - summarised as ‘CEOs for talent’! The real highlight was the ‘(W) rap-up’ session, when two remarkable young artists from the Contact, Martin and Saquib, gave a brilliant summary of what they had seen and heard in our discussions in a really impressive rap presentation!

At Capital Planning Sub-Committee we heard progress on a wide array of ongoing and planned projects - many as part of our Campus Masterplan. We also heard an external review of our minor works programmes and costs, and considered priorities for Estates and equipment for the next academic year.

I visited Manchester Business School (MBS) with Professor Clive Agnew (Vice-President for Teaching, Learning and Students), on one of my regular School visits. The students praised the support from the leadership of the MBA programme, the many new facilities in the University and improvements in their degree programmes. They expressed some concerns about facilities in MBS, which we explained would be addressed in the major refurbishment of MBS which is planned. In the staff meeting we talked about IT support, teaching focussed staff and the social responsibility agenda.

I was interviewed for an article in the Biologist magazine, which is run by the Society of Biology. I have been the President of the Society of Biology since its foundation nearly five years ago, and will step down at the next AGM in May. I was asked about my experiences as President and the changes over this time, along with Professor Jean Thomas who will succeed me as the next President. Nice to be followed by another woman!

This was followed by a meeting of the Council of the Society of Biology which Jean attended. I was delighted and embarrassed by some very kind comments at the end of my last Council meeting, though I will be chairing the AGM in May.

Then I dashed over to Queen Mary College, London, to give a talk in their ‘Women in Leadership’ programme. I was introduced by the Queen Mary Principal, Professor Simon Gaskell, who worked here for many years and very closely with me as Vice-President for Research before he left for Queen Mary. I was a little worried to be described by Simon as a ‘very old friend’!

Nancy Rothwell, President and Vice-Chancellor

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