President's Weekly Update
28 September 2017
I was on the organising committee of a conference on universities and wider engagement hosted by the University of Melbourne which I attended after my visit to Singapore. There were about 75 attendees, including ten Vice-Chancellors (all of those leading the Australian ‘Group of 8’ universities). I gave the opening address and talked about the purpose of universities and the importance of embedding engagement in our core activities - research, innovation and education - while also noting the need for training required for many staff in wider engagement.
I also chaired one of the sessions on universities and cities which included the Mayor of Melbourne on the panel. One of our members of staff, Professor Uma Khotari, who is on sabbatical in Melbourne, also presented and I saw our past Vice-President and Dean, Professor Ian Jacobs.
Much of the discussions focussed on engagement with local communities and dialogue rather than transmitting information. We also considered engagement with regional and national politicians and with industry.
Before the conference I was awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Melbourne, which was very special because it was an individual ceremony, attended by about eight other Vice-Chancellors and in front of a large portrait of my predecessor at Manchester who was also a former Vice-Chancellor of Melbourne, Professor Alan Gilbert.
I spent some time with Professor Glyn Davis, Vice-Chancellor of Melbourne, discussing our ongoing partnership which we are both keen to continue and extend - in teaching, research and social responsibility.
Interestingly, Australian Vice-Chancellors are also facing some criticism in the media about the cost of university education and senior salaries. In Australia the average salaries of Vice-Chancellors are about double those of their British equivalents. They also share concerns about government funding and the financial sustainability of universities, but have seen a massive increase in international students, particularly from China - even greater than that seen in the UK.
Uma Khotari and I both spoke at an alumni event in Melbourne and I had a private meeting with one of our alumni and donors, followed by the very long journey back to the UK.
My first meeting back in Manchester was with staff from the University of New South Wales! They were visiting us to discuss our developments in health because they are considering a new ‘health innovation precinct’ in Sydney and wanted to learn about devolution, merger of the hospitals, Corridor Manchester (which I chair), Health Innovation Manchester and other health partnerships in Greater Manchester.
This week we held induction sessions for new members of our Board of Governors, which includes three new staff members - Professors Nalin Thakker and Aneez Esmail and Dr Reinmar Hager – and Alex Tayler, General Secretary of the Students’ Union. I spoke about the ambitions and aims of the University, the current challenges that the higher education sector is facing, the role of the Board and the relationship with the Senior Leadership Team.
Professor Clive Agnew, Vice-President for Teaching, Learning and Students, and I had one of our regular meetings with Alex when we discussed Welcome Week (which seems to have gone very well), the Students’ Union position on the Teaching Excellence Framework and fees and input of students into student residence provision and the future of our North Campus.
I received an update on progress following the fire at the Paterson Building on The Christie site from Diana Hampson, Director of Estates and Facilities and Professor Nic Jones. Many staff have now been relocated to other University buildings or have moved to labs at Alderley Park and we are in the process of moving further staff, planning the redevelopment of the damaged Paterson Building and awaiting the outcome from the insurers.
I met Malcolm Press, Vice-Chancellor of Manchester Metropolitan University, to talk about the planned joint Medical School with the University of Salford, potential joint initiatives in creative activities and community engagement and the ongoing press about universities.
A few tickets are still available to attend our annual Foundation Day Celebrations on Wednesday, 11 October. This year is special because, for the first time, our Foundation Lecture will be given by one of our recent graduates and former Manchester Access Programme participant:
Gulwali, who is an Afghan political refugee, will give a lecture entitled ‘From a War Zone to the Lecture Theatre’. This will be followed by the conferment of honorary degrees by the Chancellor on Nazir Afzal, Professor Dame Janet Finch, Dr Eli Harari and Professor Cornelia Parker. To apply for a ticket (places are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis), please contact Lesley Sisson on:
Nancy Rothwell, President and Vice-Chancellor
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