President's weekly update

22 July 2021

Student satisfaction

The annual survey of student satisfaction (NSS) results was released last week. The results are disappointing since our overall satisfaction score dropped to 71% from 81% last year. There was a decline in the whole sector (75%) and the Russell Group (77%) but our results fell by more than the average. I’m sure our result will be particularly disappointing to all the staff who have worked so hard over the past year during the pandemic. Having read all of the comments submitted as part of our students’ return, it appears to be a mixture of factors. Many relate to the pandemic, and Manchester was locked down much earlier and for much longer than other regions, but there were also comments about organisation, communication, difficulty in getting responses, changing exams and the events before Christmas that gained significant media coverage.

Scores for satisfaction varied considerably across the University. Obviously we have to consider all the data carefully and act on any areas where we have not met students’ needs and expectations. I would like to reiterate my thanks to all of you who have done so much to support our students across such a challenging time.

Board of Governors

Our Board received informal briefings on the independent review of our governance by Halpin, which was welcomed and widely endorsed. We also had an update on our civic engagement activities which highlighted the many ways in which we contribute to our region. This was followed by a full Board meeting which endorsed the recommendations of the Halpin review that we will publish in full very shortly and which we will now start to implement. We had an annual update on our Social Responsibility activities, discussion of international partnerships, and approved our budget for next year and a revised intellectual property policy. The Board also discussed the annual report from the outgoing General Secretary and at the end of this item we saw a brilliant film where Nana Fredua Agyeman, our outgoing Students’ Union Postgraduate Officer, thanks our donors.

Open staff meeting

You can watch the last staff open meeting of the academic year. I gave an introduction on recent events and Professor Nalin Thakkar reported on the safety measures we have in place for the phased and safe return to campus, together with the hope that we can resume more normal teaching and other student activities in the next academic year. We answered questions on ‘meetings light’ weeks which are popular but with varied views on when these should be held (note: next week is another meetings light week), our external and internal reputation, USS pension, financial approvals, online and blended learning and progress on the new Paterson building. Thanks to everyone who attended and for their contributions.

Statement to Senate on pay awards

We have issued a further statement to Senate on pay awards to clarify our previous statement, which was correct. Confusion may arise from the use of monthly vs national inflation. The UK annual inflation (CPIH) to March this year was 1.0%, which was the basis of the national pay award. Inflation has been increasing since then. The monthly inflation for June was 2.4% and the annual inflation up to June is 1.7%. The pay award on offer is 1.5%. We noted that about half our staff get a further annual increase due to increments of about 3%. UCEA (the University and College Employers Association) has also issued its annual commentary on HE pay vs other sectors.

Further internal and external engagements

We held an online event for about 370 alumni in China, hosted by Sherry Fu at our centre in Shanghai, at which I spoke about recent events at the University and our hopes for the next academic year. Professor Esme Ward, Director of our Manchester Museum, talked about the new China Gallery then we both took lots of questions, particularly on expected arrangements for the next academic year and how they could get involved in activities in the Museum.

Professor Colette Fagan, Vice-President for Research, and I had a Zoom visit from Professor Chris Smith, Executive Director of the Arts and Humanities Research Council. We discussed the importance of arts and humanities to the whole university and society, our Creative Manchester cross institutional activity, the global standing of the Special Collections in our John Rylands Library, and our Museum, Gallery and Martin Harris Centre.

Finally, congratulations to our many student volunteers who have done 1,000 hours of volunteering in support of COVID vaccinations!

Nancy Rothwell, President and Vice-Chancellor

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