June message from Juup Stelma, Interim SEED Head of School

26 Jun 2025

Global events, social responsibility in the School and University, and new academic leadership appointments

Dear all,

There is still a lot of activity on campus and this month’s eNews is again testimony to the continuing hard work and success of all our staff and students. However, the summer is upon us, and I hope we will all have an opportunity to take a step back and reflect on the year.  

As I reflect on the year, what strikes me is how we are impacted by the many events that are unfurling in the world around us. In the past year we have seen the continuation of war in Ukraine, we have witnessed immense human suffering in Gaza, and we have seen open conflict between Israel and Iran. There are many additional conflicts – they sometimes feel “forgotten” - including in Sudan, the Sahel, the DRC, Myanmar and more. We should not forget how these wars started, and the powerful influence of history. Nonetheless, we feel the present and we want to contribute to a peaceful future. We are an international University, and in SEED we have staff and students from all over the world. We must acknowledge how we are impacted, as humans, by the social and political world around us. These are my words, but I know that the other members of SEED SLT share the concern I express here. 

As events unfold around us, we continue to be in a strong position to make a positive difference – this is our responsibility. The University of Manchester has been ranked first in the UK and Europe, and second in the World in the 2025 Times Higher Education University Impact Rankings. SEED has and continues to play a huge contribution here. Also, the University will represent the UK as one of the founding members of the International Green Learning and Skills Accelerator, a Times Higher Education initiative set up as part of the United Nations’ Green Jobs for Youth Pact. This initiative is led by our own Professor Jen O’Brien in her capacity as the Academic Lead for Sustainability Teaching and Learning. More globally, Manchester is ranked 35th in the QS World University rankings just published and our Disciplines continue to be highly ranked.  

Looking back at this SEED eNews, I encourage everyone to read Rory Stanton’s message to us all. Rory has guided us expertly through a challenging year of teaching, learning and student experience, and he will play an important role, going forward, as we respond to the Manchester 2035 agenda.  A thank you also to Louisa Dawes, Tom Donnai and Ola Demkowicz for their invaluable contributions as SEED Associate Directors for Assessment, Widening Participation and Research Ethics, and a warm welcome to Claire Goulsbra, Loretta Anthony-Okeke and Mark Innes into these roles starting in August.  

Finally, and again, I do hope we all find some time for both rest and reflection this summer. I suggest that this should include a visit the now completed Ellen Wilkinson Commons. This is an amazing space. If you are looking for a bit of peace, or a place to socialise, this may be better than any other space on campus. Yes, we will have our July 16th Summer Social in the Ellen Wilkinson Commons – I hope to see you there! 

Juup