President's weekly update
1 June 2022
The importance of innovation
At a meeting of Innovation Greater Manchester (IGM), we considered our bid to government for funds as one of three UK innovation accelerators. Our priority areas are the same as those in GM’s local industrial strategy: ie advanced materials and manufacturing, health innovation, digital, creative and environment. We agreed on the need for strong input from industry, and for us to strengthen the IGM board. I also raised the importance of life sciences (in addition to health) and representation of universities across the region. We will be promoting a request for input and ideas for our accelerator bid.
I spoke at a Times Higher Education salon on innovation, which I defined as bringing discoveries to societal and economic benefit. I said this must not be at the cost of discovery research, which very few organisations apart from universities undertake now, and without which we will not have new knowledge to innovate. In commenting on the government’s agendas - ‘innovation nation’, ‘science superpower’ and ‘levelling up’ - I said that we must include humanities and creative activities, areas in which the UK is exceptional. These bring in major funding, for example in financial, legal and regulatory services and in creative industries. Creative activities are also incredibly important in ‘levelling up’ because there is real talent and activity in every part of the country.
The value of philanthropy
I chaired a group to consider the role and value of philanthropy, our future focus and the initial phase of an institutional campaign. This will aim to not only bring in funds for our core activities, but should also increase our external profile and reputation, and help us engage across our staff, students and alumni in a common cause.
In meetings with senior donors, I asked their views about our campaign and its high-level three core themes of a more sustainable world, a more equal world and healthier futures in which we will focus on our particular strengths. We will also seek support for our students, other research, teaching and social responsibility projects and facilities. These will be subject to wider consultation and discussion as we focus on our core areas for philanthropy.
Civic engagement
We held one of our regular meetings of vice-chancellors across GM and discussed IGM, our Civic University Agreement, next steps in partnering with GM Colleges of Further Education and the ever-increasing bureaucracy we all seem to be facing. We also shared our experience of real problems in recruiting staff, which seems to be challenging all organisations at the moment.
Finance changes
This week we say farewell to John Cunningham who has done a fantastic job as our interim Chief Finance Officer. Next week we welcome Carol Prokopyszyn who takes up the role of CFO from 6 June. Carol joins us from the University of Dundee and has already been working with John.
Senate discussions
Luke Georghiou, Deputy President and Deputy Vice-Chancellor, will be chairing our Senate meeting later today on my behalf as I will be travelling overseas. There will be reports on key activities, consideration of teaching expectations and an update on our governance changes.
Bank holidays
I hope you all manage to have a rest and an enjoyable time over the two days of bank holidays for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. Fingers crossed for good weather. I will be taking a couple of days off so there will be no message next week.
Nancy Rothwell, President and Vice-Chancellor