President's weekly update

8 July 2021

Strategic planning

We spent a full day with members of our Board of Governors discussing our strategic plans. We agreed that Our future, which was launched in early 2020 just before the COVID pandemic, was still highly valid and while a few things may be delayed due to COVID, other plans have been accelerated such as blended learning, commercialisation, our reputation for social responsibility and developing new ways of working.

Much of the discussion focused on how we deliver our plans which of course, amongst other considerations, depends on our financial position. Financial sustainability is a concern since, like all research-intensive universities, most of our income streams are at best flat or declining, while our costs are rising faster than inflation. There are very few levers to address this situation, but senior staff presented plans to generate further income and save costs and also the risks associated with each of these actions. We also considered a range of opportunities including Innovation District Manchester and other commercial activities, building on our cross-disciplinary strengths, further enhancing our social responsibility activities and developing new teaching programmes.

Work is now continuing with even more detailed planning ahead of our October Board meeting. This is focused on prioritisation, further feasibility assessment of the strategic investments we need to make to deliver our ambitious three-five year plans, within a framework of reiterating our strategic objectives and achieving financial sustainability in this uncertain world. We will of course update you further on this in the months ahead.

We had a meeting with leaders from across the University largely to brief them on the Board discussions, to update on general issues, present our widening access and participation plans, discuss changes to our accountability process and hear about developments in Manchester University Press.

Response on USS pension

We have submitted our response to the latest short consultation on the USS pension which was approved by our Board. This has been published along with an article explaining where we are on the current consultation. USS has published communications from the Pension Regulator indicating that they feel that the current position, which is a cost of 0.5% above the current payment but with some changes to benefits and strengthening of the employer covenant, is highly risky, but will probably be permitted. It is clear that the improvement in the economy since the March 2020 valuation has helped the current position, but while the deficit is likely to have reduced significantly, the cost of future benefits has also increased. We need to reach agreement on the 2020 valuation to avoid very large increases in costs. It is likely that some increases will be applied for both employers and employees this October. However, if agreement is not reached on the 2020 valuation, further very large increases will follow in April and October 2022. The Russell Group has put out a statement agreed by all 24 members.

COVID

We're currently working through the latest Government COVID-19 announcement on removing restrictions and are considering what this means for the University. Planning continues for different timetabling scenarios for the start of the new Academic Year not least as some international students may not be able to join us in Manchester immediately. We will provide an update to all staff and students as soon as possible.

You may have seen erroneous statements about our blended learning next year and in the longer term. We will be providing extensive in-person, on-campus teaching assuming that no further restrictions come in.

External engagement

I gave several talks, all online; one at the Cambridge Graduate students’ annual meeting on our research, and a public lecture as part of the Manchester Pathology conference. I took part in discussions at the Times Higher Education impact forum about health and wellbeing, where I spoke about COVID as a catalyst for change, and I was interviewed by the Association of International Education Administrators on environmental and societal challenges and the value of international education.

At a meeting with the Minister for Science, Research and Innovation, Amanda Solloway, we talked about the value of public engagement in science and research and how to enthuse the public.

International relationships

We launched a joint PhD programme with the University of Chile at an online event with senior staff from both universities and the ambassadors in Chile and London. You can watch a recording of the launch.

I chaired a Russell Group meeting with the heads of Germany’s U15 universities which is their equivalent of the Russell Group. In addition to a general update from me and from U15, we discussed freedom of speech and academic freedom, international research partnerships and security issues associated with some research topics. The similarities between the challenges we face here and in Germany were remarkable. We agreed to follow up with working groups and a further joint meeting.

Nancy Rothwell, President and Vice-Chancellor

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