President’s Weekly Update
5 November 2015
A meeting of Senate held yesterday (Wednesday, 4 November 2015) endorsed for recommendation to the Board of Governors the new names for two of the Faculties following on from the Review of Life Sciences and Cognate Disciplines. You can find out more at:
Senate also discussed moderation of undergraduate marks, expectations of research and issues related to the changes to the Redeployment Register, transformational change in IT Services and consultations with the campus trades unions. You can see a further update on these issues at:
Professor Luke Geoghiou (Vice-President for Research and Innovation) and I hosted an event at the spectacular new KPMG offices in Manchester to talk about ESOF (EuroScience Open Forum) next July in Manchester and the accompanying year-long ECOS (European City of Science). The event involved over 100 local business leaders and other guests. I gave the opening welcome which was followed by a short film about ESOF. Professor Brian Cox talked about the importance of communicating science, then Professor Danielle George from our Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences described what ECOS will bring and some of the planned activities - including a ‘robot orchestra’ made out of discarded household appliances. Sir Howard Bernstein, Chief Executive of Manchester City Council, talked about the value of ESOF and ECOS to local and regional businesses and how they could get involved. For further details, see:
This week has been Policy Week – a series of events organised by Policy@Manchester bringing together leading thinkers, academics, students and policy influencers to debate and progress key policy issues. Linked to ECOS, this year's theme is ‘Science, Technology and Public Policy’, and among the key events were a masterclass for PhD students and a lecture to a wider audience by Lord David Willetts, former Minister of Universities and Skills. His lecture was called: ‘Disruptive technology: how will emerging technology impact on higher education?’ To find out more about Policy Week and policy@manchester, see:
I was interviewed for Chinese television, following President Xi’s visit, to talk about Chinese students and their value to the University and the City, and the growth in our educational and research links with Chinese universities and companies.
I visited the Central Library in Manchester to see an exhibition of poetry and art by stroke survivors, organised by the local Stroke Association, called: ‘Stroke: stories of the self through art and science’. Our research group has very strong links with this important charity and has held events on science and arts with many stroke survivors and their family and friends. To find out more about this see:
Professor Ian Greer (Vice-President and Dean of the Faculty of Medical and Human Sciences) and I attended a meeting on health and social care in Manchester at the Town Hall. Chaired by Sir Richard Leese and attended by the CEOs and Chairs of major hospitals in Manchester and Commissioning Groups, it was held to determine the next steps in delivering devolution of the health budget to Manchester.
I also attended the Executive Members of the Combined Authority meeting on growth in the region. I was there as chair of Corridor Manchester to talk about the new Strategic Plan for Oxford Road and the immediate surrounding areas and to tell the members about ESOF and European City of Science. Then I met members of the National Audit Office to discuss the Greater Manchester Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP). I told them of my very positive experience and the great relationship between the University and the City and the Greater Manchester Combined Authority.
At our Planning and Resources Committee we recommended the financial accounts for 2014-15 that will now be considered by our Board of Governors, considered registrations of new students for the 2015/16 academic year and reviewed applications for 2016 entry and heard about the governance and plans for IT Services.
I hosted a question and answer session with about 40 of our President's Doctoral Scholarship holders. Questions ranged from how to balance time and priorities, what they need to do to secure an academic career and the importance of teaching, to many wider questions about the funding of the University, our role in supporting developing countries and refugees, and personal questions about my own career and balancing competing demands.
I opened a conference for ‘Silicon Valley Comes to the UK’ (SiVC2UK) in our Renold Building. Successful entrepreneurs came to talk to our staff and students about the dos and don’ts of starting businesses and where and how to get support. Feedback suggested that it was extremely successful. In the evening I hosted a dinner for our visitors and many other local business leaders in the beautiful Reading Room of our John Rylands Library on Deansgate. I did throw down a challenge for future events - that far too many of those present were white males and that we must attract more diverse speakers, supporters and entrepreneurs.
One of the more unusual meetings I attended last week was at the Museum of Science and Industry on how to stimulate productivity in Greater Manchester. It was attended by about 25 Manchester leaders in education, public engagement and business, and hosted by Juergen Maier, UK Chief Executive of Siemens and an honorary professor with us. The most unusual aspect was that the whole meeting was held in the adult ‘ball pool’ in the Museum - certainly worth a visit as you can literally swim through the balls.
Nancy Rothwell, President and Vice-Chancellor
Feedback
Please send comments to president@manchester.ac.uk