President's Weekly Update
12 April 2018
The Association of Heads of University Administration (AHUA) held its annual conference at the University this week, hosted by our Registrar, Secretary and Chief Operating Officer, Will Spinks. It was attended by almost 90 heads of university administration from across the UK, some from outside the university sector and some from overseas. I gave a lecture on ‘A university in a changing world’. This covered the social and cultural value of universities as well as the financial benefits which are so prominent in current debates, the many changes in finance and regulation of universities, the value of collaboration as well as competition between universities, changes in the way students learn and the need for universities to be better at presenting what they do for society. There were many questions including ones on how universities can become more adaptable and agile, and how we improve the opportunities for student mobility between universities. Will also asked me what a Vice-Chancellor looks for in a Registrar/Secretary/Chief Operating Officer.
As part of the conference I attended a reception which was followed by a presentation by Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham and our Chancellor Lemn Sissay gave the after dinner speech. I met Professor Sir Anton Muscatelli, Chair of the Russell Group of universities who was speaking at the conference and we discussed how the Russell Group can better promote the impact and benefit of universities.
We held the official opening of the Thomas Ashton Institute for Risk and Regulatory Research at which I spoke about the aims of the new cross-disciplinary institute. This has been developed as part of a longstanding partnership with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) with support from the Lloyds Foundation (the charitable arm of Lloyds Register). The three main initial strands of activity described by Dr Richard Judge, Chief Executive of the HSE are digital and data analytics and predictions, health and well-being in the workplace and safer structures.
I gave the opening welcome at the annual meeting for Marshall Scholars (talented young American students that receive funding to study in the UK) at the University and spoke about leadership - both in general and in universities, where leadership is quite different to that in the corporate world. I quoted from an interesting article in the THE based on an interview with Professor Glyn Davis, Vice-Chancellor of The University of Melbourne, in which he commented that Vice-Chancellors have “no real authority” because of the distributed nature of universities and that they are recognisably quite different from corporate CEOs due to the collegiate nature of universities. There were many questions including how are we planning for Brexit, how I got to my current position in what is still a largely ‘male dominated profession’ and why UK universities fail to offer the breadth of university education (eg: liberal arts) that is seen in the USA.
I chaired the University’s Awards and Honours Group (AHG) meeting which considers candidates for honorary degrees and for the University Medal of Honour awards. The AHG recommends honorary degree candidates to Senate in the first instance, with final approval being sought from the Board of Governors. Medal of Honours recommendations are considered by the Board. I also attended the Nominations Committee which considered candidates for Board membership, though I am not a member of this committee and am not involved in interviews for Board membership.
Lord Keith Bradley, who has recently taken up the Chair of the Council of Salford University, came in for a chat about how we proceed with cross university partnerships in health research and education in Greater Manchester and about the value of our cultural institutions - Keith is a trustee of Tabley House in Cheshire which is owned by the University.
Edward Astle, Chair of our Board of Governors, had a general catch up meeting with me on developments in the University and the sector. A major topic was the proposed USS pension changes and ongoing industrial dispute. University and College Union (UCU) members are currently voting on proposals to establish a joint ‘expert group’ whose task will be to agree key principles to underpin the future approach to the valuation of the USS fund. You can see the proposal at: Joint Expert Panel Proposed If the vote is in favour, UCU has said that it will suspend industrial action during the work of the group. If the vote is against, we can expect strike action again at our University next week.
I hosted an alumni event ‘Your Manchester Insights: Devo Health’ which was presented by Jon Rouse. Jon is one of our alumni and leads the Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership. He spoke about the huge needs in children and young people’s health and well-being in the region and described some of the innovative approaches that the partnership is taking.
Professor Luke Georghiou (Deputy President and Deputy Vice-Chancellor and I met Simon Nokes who leads the Manchester Growth Company for the Greater Manchester Combined Authority. We told him about some of our major recent developments in business engagement, graphene and other advanced materials, digital and culture and our partnerships with other local universities.
We have received about 1,800 applications for the Presidential Fellowships which will be based across the University and which were advertised recently, so we will have a significant task in short-listing for interviews.
Nancy Rothwell, President and Vice-Chancellor
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