President's Weekly Update
15 March 2018
The proposed changes to the USS pension and the resulting ongoing industrial action are very significant issues for this University and many others in HE sector. I hope that you have all read the more detailed message that I sent out about this yesterday. Further updates will be shared with staff and students as the situation develops.
On a happier note, last week we celebrated International Women’s Day with an event attended by over 200 people in the Whitworth Hall. I gave an opening address and hosted a discussion with two of our alumni in the media. Dorothy Byrne graduated in Philosophy in 1973 and is now Head of Channel 4 News and Current Affairs and has won many television awards. Kirstie O’Mahony also graduated in Philosophy but only a year ago and is currently Editor-in-Chief for The Mancunion which is largest student newspaper in the UK. Both discussed their experiences of hurdles and how they have overcome them and their hopes for further improvements in gender equality, and took a number of questions from the audience.
In relation to gender equality, you may have seen reports that there is an imbalance of payments recognising exceptional performance between male and female staff at our University. This is largely due to NHS payments to our staff who hold joint University-NHS appointments. The NHS has a much more extensive bonus system and the NHS part of clinical staff’s salaries and bonuses are paid through the University. The imbalance in NHS bonuses arises because there are many more male than female senior consultants. The University has a scheme (which is open to all staff at all levels) whereby exceptional performance can be recognised and rewarded. Where this is used there is only a modest gender imbalance (48% female) in respect of staff receiving such payments.
We held a full day event called Pitch@Palace for entrepreneurs. I gave the opening address and introduced His Royal Highness, the Duke of York, Prince Andrew, who instigated these events in 2014. Several hundred successful or hopeful entrepreneurs attended and some pitched their ideas. I commented that it would be nice to see a few more women amongst them. I hosted a lunch with the Duke and a small number of guests and attended the prize giving ceremony at the end. At the reception after the event, I met one of our alumni who had started a very local successful business with her husband (also an alumnus). Both had graduated from our Faculty of Humanities but now run a digital ‘tech’ firm.
I chaired the Prime Minister’s Council for Science and Technology in London. I normally co-chair with the Government Chief Scientific Advisor but Dr Patrick Vallance who succeeds Professor Sir Mark Walport, will not take up this role until April.
I also gave a lecture to our MBA students on the role and responsibilities of a non-executive director. I spoke about my experience in such roles in major charities, in small companies in the UK and overseas and in a large, multi-national FTSE top 30 company. They asked many questions.
I attended a British Science Week event organised by the Widening Participation Team which aims to inspire the next generation of scientists and engage young people with research. I met with pupils from Trinity High School and West Hill School and discussed the workshops they had participated in. I also visited some of the 23 stands in the Science Fair staffed by academics and students from across the institution. During the week around 900 pupils aged between 11-14 will attend the event, of which two thirds are target widening participation schools from across Greater Manchester.
In a visit to the School of Medical Sciences, students reported that they felt they had not received sufficient communications about industrial action, though we explained that our staff are not obliged to inform the University before they take industrial action. They also asked about postgraduate student representation in the Students’ Union. In the open meeting with staff we also discussed pensions and industrial action, the recruitment of a new Vice-President and Dean and how we build staff morale which is extremely important.
I attended one of the sessions of our new Inspiring Leaders Programme to discuss how we can enhance the ways we recognise and value teaching, what is important and distinctive about our University and how we improve communications and engagement across such a large organisation.
In a regular meeting with Professor Malcolm Press, Vice-Chancellor of Manchester Metropolitan University, we discussed the many challenges facing the sector including much adverse media attention, our new minister (Sam Gyimah) whom we have both met and areas for collaboration including medical and health training, student mental health, student residences and the Oxford Road Corridor, which I chair.
A final reminder that the deadline for applications for Investing In Success is Friday, 16 March. The scheme presents a great opportunity for you to access training opportunities, start a new project or enhance the way you work.
Nancy Rothwell, President and Vice-Chancellor
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