President's Weekly Update
23 January 2014
This week I went to one of our regular ‘Heads’ meeting (attended by about 90 Heads of Schools, PSS Directorates and cultural institutions), which was hosted by the Faculty of Humanities. We heard from Professor Colin Talbot from the School of Social Sciences (Politics) about how we ensure that our research has impact (in the public sense rather than for REF) and how we can influence policy. Then Lynn Shephard, Director of the Manchester Enterprise Centre, talked about enterprise opportunities for students. Both gave excellent presentations demonstrating activities initiated in Humanities but with clear reach across the University and well beyond.
I gave a general update. There was much to celebrate, but as always concerns to be alert to, such as the likely need to address a major deficit in our pension schemes, further possible cuts in government spending and the pressures on student recruitment. On the latter, data for entry 2014 look reassuring at this stage, but it’s very early in the cycle and experience says we need to pay attention to the details. I also highlighted ongoing priorities such as NSS, staying in touch with students, research grant income and delivery of research outcomes.
I gave the opening speech at the launch of our new Manchester Institute of Education (MIE) which was attended by over 150 staff, students and external partners. Professor Dave Hall, Director of MIE, talked about its origins and vision; Professor Neil Humphrey, Director of Research, described the Sarah Fielden Seminar series (named after philanthropist who provided funding for our first Professor of Education in 1899); then Professor Ruth Lupton, recently appointed from LSE, gave the inaugural seminar.
I attended two more events in London - I feel like a commuter getting the early train back after each one. Last week I attended a discussion at the Academy of Medical Sciences, hosted by its President, Professor Sir John Tooke. It was a pleasure to meet the recently appointed Director of the Wellcome Trust, Professor Jeremy Farrar, and to discuss with a group of leaders in biomedical sciences how we can demonstrate benefit and impact.
This week I was privileged to attend a dinner at an event called the ’30 Club’ which was founded in the 1920s and has about 100 chief executives as members. The speaker was Bill Gates who has just published the Gates Annual letter about world poverty and philanthropy. He was inspirational and spent 40 minutes answering questions. I met some remarkable people, including a few of our alumni.
The Staff IT Survey – ‘What’s IT Worth?’ continues this week. This is an opportunity for all of us to think about what aspects of IT are most valuable to us here at the University and feed this into new developments for IT, under the guidance of Gerry Pennell (Director of IT).
Professor Clive Agnew and I had a fascinating discussion with the President of Arizona State University (ASU). ASU is not (yet) amongst the top universities by research ranking but it is incredibly innovative with a remarkable trajectory of success, has similar principles and values to us and has a remarkable record in electronic and distance learning - so there is much of common interest to take forward.
One of the findings of the Staff Survey suggested that staff wanted more opportunities for two way communications with myself and the Senior Leadership Team. So, in a few weeks time I will be taking part in an event called ‘President’s Question Time’ where staff can put questions to me and members of the Senior Leadership Team. To make sure that this is useful and relevant we’d like you to choose the topics which are discussed at this event. You can get involved by taking part in a poll at:
I met Nick Massey who runs the charity ‘Forever Manchester’ that works with disadvantaged communities in Greater Manchester and discussed how the University might work with them.
Nancy Rothwell, President and Vice-Chancellor
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