President's weekly update
2 July 2020
The Government has announced a package of measures to support university research in the wake of the anticipated loss of international students. The majority of this (75%) is in the form of ten-year loans, which of course would have to be paid back, but is still helpful. It also includes support to extend UKRI-funded projects and states a ‘small sum for grants’ to universities. We may not know the actual allocation we would receive if we lose international students for several weeks. This announcement is certainly very welcome even if it contributes only a part of the loss of income from international students, residences, conferences and catering (~£160m pa). We are continuing efforts to secure a longer-term solution to sustainable research funding. There was also a welcome announcement of an extension of the post-study work visa, to three years, for PhD students and release of the Government’s Research and Development Roadmap. You can see a further update on our current position.
At the Russell Group Board, I heard that other universities are assuming a reduction in international student numbers of greater than 50%. Like us, their acceptances are above last year, but take-up of residences (which may give a more accurate reflection of likely registration) is well below normal levels. Much depends on infection rates, travel, the availability of visas and student confidence over coming weeks. Several Vice-Chancellors commented on the openness and transparency of our staff communications.
Sir Jeremy Farrar, Director of the Wellcome Trust, joined the Russell Group meeting. Unlike most of the medical charities, which depend on donations, Wellcome is in a healthy financial position. Sir Jeremy set out a shift in the focus of the Trust’s research towards health impacts of climate change, infectious disease and mental health and that more interdisciplinary research involving the physical and social sciences will be encouraged.
The Association of Medical Research Charities has announced major losses of income leading to some of the research it funds being paused or stopped. We have very significant research income from several of these charities.
At a meeting with Heads of Schools and then at a wider meeting with Heads from across the University, we updated on student recruitment, potential Government funding and the take-up of our voluntary measures for staff.
We also had a meeting with the Chairs of our Board Committees mainly to discuss our current and likely future financial position. We reported on the short-term loans that we have applied for but have not yet heard if these have been granted. These will be very important for our cash flow if we lose significant income from student fees.
I chaired a board meeting of our Digital Futures activity which included presentations on our membership of, and activities with, the national Alan Turing Institute. We agreed that developing our capabilities in artificial intelligence, skills and training, health data and security were key areas for us and that we aim to develop creative digital.
We held a shadow board meeting of the Manchester Graphene Company, a public private partnership to commercialise our discoveries in graphene and related two-dimensional materials, chaired by Juergen Maier, who holds an honorary chair with us.
Simon Collins, former head of KPMG UK and chair of our Global Leadership Board, spoke to members of the Senior Leadership Team about managing through crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic. He drew on his experience from many organisations and highlighted that decision making had to be much faster, and organisations that do best are those that have a clear vision for the future and are most agile and adaptable to change.
Next week I will be speaking at the Festival of Higher Education, which is on the shape of British higher education post-COVID-19, along with three former science ministers and Nick Hillman, Director of the Higher Education Policy Institute, who is on our Board. You can register for free to hear part or all of the conference.
I took part in a video session with Professor Brian Cox, hosted by Lord William Waldegrave, the Chair of Coutts bank, with questions from Vikas Shah, who holds an honorary chair with us, and over 700 Coutts customers, to discuss the importance of research, and how universities are adapting and responding to COVID-19.
We suffered a fire in A V Hill Building and while the damage was localised, it has taken out the power meaning that the research labs, which had recently re-opened, are not currently usable. We are working hard to resolve this as quickly as possible.
We heard the remarkable news this week that eleven of our colleagues have won prizes awarded by the Royal Society of Chemistry, by far the highest number of any university.
Nancy Rothwell, President and Vice-Chancellor