Skip to navigation | Skip to main content | Skip to footer
Menu
Search the Staffnet siteSearch StaffNet

President's Weekly Update

12 May 2016

We held two important events this week to recognise the achievements of our staff and students:  the awards for Social Responsibility (‘Making a Difference’) and for Volunteers of the Year. Both took place on the same day and both in the Whitworth Hall - each feeling quite like the Oscars. Fantastic attendance and audiences, and some remarkable achievements.

Volunteers of the Year rewarded our staff, students and alumni. It was quite emotional when John Norgrove, one of our alumni, received the award for supporting women in Afghanistan, in recognition of the tragic death of his daughter Linda.

In the evening, the ‘Making a Difference’ awards recognised contributions in nine categories, with a special celebration of the 10th anniversary of Manchester Access Programme for widening participation. Amongst the many ‘stars’, one student - Ilyas Nagdee - was remarkable, since he won a volunteer award and two 'Making a Difference' awards and next year will be joining the Students’ Union Executive. Our Chancellor, Lemn Sissay, gave a great closing speech and read the poem he wrote for last year’s Foundation Day.

I hosted an event for Professor Dr HRH Princess Chulabhorn of Thailand and a large delegation from Thailand who visited because they are interested in partnering on medical research and training.

We held a dinner for new professors - both those promoted within the University and those recruited from outside. Together with the Vice-Presidents and Deans, Keith Brown, Martin Schroder and Ian Greer, we asked those present why they chose to move to or stay at The University of Manchester, what we do well and what we need to do better. Of course, they identified a number of things we could do better and had many suggestions for new things. We were surprised (and pleased) by the many positive comments, particularly from staff who had joined us from other universities in many different countries.

I spoke at an event at our Museum on Climate Change, after a presentation from Dame Vivienne Westwood to students on this topic. The Living Worlds gallery was absolutely packed and Dr Nick Merriman, the Museum's Director, spoke about the Museum’s new exhibition and engagement programme on climate change. I talked about our commitment to global challenges and engaging wider communities, and Dame Vivienne talked about individuals and groups making a difference.

On a visit to the School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work, we discussed the significant change in funding for nursing students from bursaries to (albeit larger) loans and how this might affect student recruitment - particularly of mature students, who are quite common in nursing, and may be more concerned about taking on debt. The students we met were very positive about their course, recognising that because it was much more ‘science based’ than some other degree programmes, this was valuable to them when they went into work placements.

During my visit to the Institute of Human Development in the Faculty of Medical and Human Sciences, staff and students raised questions about how we best balance contributions to our core activities, particularly for clinical staff with major NHS commitments. We also discussed how we best support and attract the next generation of excellent young scientist and clinical academics.

I met some of our cancer researchers at The Christie site, led by Professor Sir Salvador Moncada, in our spectacular new cancer research building. Our discussions focussed on major forthcoming proposals for funding, but more importantly on how we shift cancer research towards prevention, early diagnosis and early treatments.

Many people gathered in our Museum to celebrate the remarkable career of Terry Priest, Director of our Biological Services Facility. Terry joined the University over 50 years ago and is known nationally and internationally for his remarkable contributions to animal research and welfare.

Professor Glyn Davis, Vice-Chancellor of Melbourne, visited with colleagues to discuss the launch of the next round of collaborative funding between our universities. In addition to this, we took Glyn and his colleagues on a quick visit to the National Graphene Institute and the Alan Gilbert Learning Commons before they travelled to see the planned new proton beam therapy centre for cancer treatment at The Christie. We also discussed collaboration in distance learning, the organisation of professional support services, history of our universities and football - Manchester City has a club in Melbourne!

I visited the very impressive Henry Moseley X-Ray Imaging Facility in the Alan Turing Building, where Professor Phil Withers showed me around their wide range of imaging systems which are truly ‘state-of-the-art’. These facilities are used by staff and students from across the University - and from other universities and companies - for studying not only materials but also biological and clinical samples and mummies from our Museum.

We held a meeting with partners across Greater Manchester and East Cheshire to discuss the ‘Science and Innovation Audit’ for which we have been selected in the first wave of proposals for the Department of Business Innovation and Skills. We will be working closely with New Economy - Greater Manchester’s policy body - to develop our full proposal over the next few months. We aim to have at least a draft to launch at ESOF in July.

I gave a lecture to MBA students on the role of a non-executive director (NED) of a major company, based on my experience of nine years as a NED of AstraZeneca-and particularly my experience during the very public attempted take-over of the company by Pfizer.

It was a great pleasure to meet two of our major supporters from Hong Kong - Louis and Amy Wong. Louis is a member of our Hong Kong Foundation and, aside from this, both he and Amy make a huge input to the University and are generous donors. Amy has also introduced me to a fantastic and very reasonably priced tailor in Hong Kong!

I spoke at the University’s Women’s Institute group - known as the Busy Bees. I talked about my role, what a normal day is like (though, of course, there isn’t one) and my own hobbies. I was given an excellent slice of cake - most fitting for the WI!

     

Nancy Rothwell, President and Vice-Chancellor

Feedback

Please send comments to: president@manchester.ac.uk

     

President's Weekly Update

12 May 2016

We held two important events this week to recognise the achievements of our staff and students:  the awards for Social Responsibility (‘Making a Difference’) and for Volunteers of the Year. Both took place on the same day and both in the Whitworth Hall - each feeling quite like the Oscars. Fantastic attendance and audiences, and some remarkable achievements.

Volunteers of the Year rewarded our staff, students and alumni. It was quite emotional when John Norgrove, one of our alumni, received the award for supporting women in Afghanistan, in recognition of the tragic death of his daughter Linda.

In the evening, the ‘Making a Difference’ awards recognised contributions in nine categories, with a special celebration of the 10th anniversary of Manchester Access Programme for widening participation. Amongst the many ‘stars’, one student - Ilyas Nagdee - was remarkable, since he won a volunteer award and two 'Making a Difference' awards and next year will be joining the Students’ Union Executive. Our Chancellor, Lemn Sissay, gave a great closing speech and read the poem he wrote for last year’s Foundation Day.

I hosted an event for Professor Dr HRH Princess Chulabhorn of Thailand and a large delegation from Thailand who visited because they are interested in partnering on medical research and training.

We held a dinner for new professors - both those promoted within the University and those recruited from outside. Together with the Vice-Presidents and Deans, Keith Brown, Martin Schroder and Ian Greer, we asked those present why they chose to move to or stay at The University of Manchester, what we do well and what we need to do better. Of course, they identified a number of things we could do better and had many suggestions for new things. We were surprised (and pleased) by the many positive comments, particularly from staff who had joined us from other universities in many different countries.

I spoke at an event at our Museum on Climate Change, after a presentation from Dame Vivienne Westwood to students on this topic. The Living Worlds gallery was absolutely packed and Dr Nick Merriman, the Museum's Director, spoke about the Museum’s new exhibition and engagement programme on climate change. I talked about our commitment to global challenges and engaging wider communities, and Dame Vivienne talked about individuals and groups making a difference.

On a visit to the School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work, we discussed the significant change in funding for nursing students from bursaries to (albeit larger) loans and how this might affect student recruitment - particularly of mature students, who are quite common in nursing, and may be more concerned about taking on debt. The students we met were very positive about their course, recognising that because it was much more ‘science based’ than some other degree programmes, this was valuable to them when they went into work placements.

During my visit to the Institute of Human Development in the Faculty of Medical and Human Sciences, staff and students raised questions about how we best balance contributions to our core activities, particularly for clinical staff with major NHS commitments. We also discussed how we best support and attract the next generation of excellent young scientist and clinical academics.

I met some of our cancer researchers at The Christie site, led by Professor Sir Salvador Moncada, in our spectacular new cancer research building. Our discussions focussed on major forthcoming proposals for funding, but more importantly on how we shift cancer research towards prevention, early diagnosis and early treatments.

Many people gathered in our Museum to celebrate the remarkable career of Terry Priest, Director of our Biological Services Facility. Terry joined the University over 50 years ago and is known nationally and internationally for his remarkable contributions to animal research and welfare.

Professor Glyn Davis, Vice-Chancellor of Melbourne, visited with colleagues to discuss the launch of the next round of collaborative funding between our universities. In addition to this, we took Glyn and his colleagues on a quick visit to the National Graphene Institute and the Alan Gilbert Learning Commons before they travelled to see the planned new proton beam therapy centre for cancer treatment at The Christie. We also discussed collaboration in distance learning, the organisation of professional support services, history of our universities and football - Manchester City has a club in Melbourne!

I visited the very impressive Henry Moseley X-Ray Imaging Facility in the Alan Turing Building, where Professor Phil Withers showed me around their wide range of imaging systems which are truly ‘state-of-the-art’. These facilities are used by staff and students from across the University - and from other universities and companies - for studying not only materials but also biological and clinical samples and mummies from our Museum.

We held a meeting with partners across Greater Manchester and East Cheshire to discuss the ‘Science and Innovation Audit’ for which we have been selected in the first wave of proposals for the Department of Business Innovation and Skills. We will be working closely with New Economy - Greater Manchester’s policy body - to develop our full proposal over the next few months. We aim to have at least a draft to launch at ESOF in July.

I gave a lecture to MBA students on the role of a non-executive director (NED) of a major company, based on my experience of nine years as a NED of AstraZeneca-and particularly my experience during the very public attempted take-over of the company by Pfizer.

It was a great pleasure to meet two of our major supporters from Hong Kong - Louis and Amy Wong. Louis is a member of our Hong Kong Foundation and, aside from this, both he and Amy make a huge input to the University and are generous donors. Amy has also introduced me to a fantastic and very reasonably priced tailor in Hong Kong!

I spoke at the University’s Women’s Institute group - known as the Busy Bees. I talked about my role, what a normal day is like (though, of course, there isn’t one) and my own hobbies. I was given an excellent slice of cake - most fitting for the WI!

     

Nancy Rothwell, President and Vice-Chancellor

Feedback

Please send comments to: president@manchester.ac.uk