A message from Jenn Hallam

17 Dec 2025

A message from Jenn reflecting on the year, celebrating our graduates, and looking ahead to the year to come

Dear colleagues,

I want to take a moment to say a huge thank you as we wrap up another busy term and head into the festive season. I’m writing this having just recovered from a rather unwelcome bout of flu - a timely reminder to slow down, look after ourselves, and for me to indulge in a little extra green tea over the break! I hope you’re all managing to stay well as the year draws to a close.

I hope you find our TLSE newsletters useful, and as always, we really welcome your feedback and ideas for future content. This newsletter is very much for you, so please do keep sharing what you’d like to see more of.

From Manchester for the world

As the year ends, it feels like a good moment to pause and celebrate what we’ve achieved together. Thousands of colleagues, students and partners have shared their ideas, stories and ambitions to help shape our Manchester 2035 strategy. That collective effort has given us a real sense of shared purpose and direction.

At its heart, the strategy is about the kind of university we want to be: a great civic university for the 21st century, creating knowledge for the public good, both locally and globally. In the new year, we’ll begin bringing that vision to life. This next phase is about turning ideas into action, learning as we go, and continuing to work together in open, inclusive, and supportive ways.

To help us do this, we now have a three-year work package and delivery handbook that sets out how we’ll approach the work in practice. It gives us a shared framework to guide improvements, adapt as we learn, and move forward together. It’s not about having all the answers straight away, but about creating the conditions to make real progress as a community.

For those of us working in teaching, learning and the student experience, this feels especially meaningful. Our work shapes how students experience Manchester, how they grow in confidence and skills, and how they go on to make a difference beyond the University. We won’t get everything right straight away, and that’s okay. What matters is that we keep talking, keep listening, and keep moving forward together.

Celebrating our graduates

Our Winter Graduation Ceremonies are now coming to an end, and it has been a truly joyful week of celebration. Graduations are always a powerful reminder of the collective effort behind every student achievement, and I’ve loved attending my first set of ceremonies as Vice President for Teaching, Learning and Students. Seeing our graduates cross the stage, cheered on by families, friends and colleagues, has been inspiring and heartwarming.

If you attended ceremonies, took part in the academic procession, or supported a student who graduated this winter, thank you. And if you have any fun or special moments to share, we’d still love to hear them – it’s always a joy to celebrate these together!

Thank you

As the year comes to a close, it feels like the perfect time to reflect on everything we’ve achieved. This year has brought challenges, change, and lots of opportunities to be proud of across teaching, learning and the student experience.

A heartfelt thank you to all of you for the creativity, care, and energy you bring to your work. The impact of what you do is felt every day by our students, and together it makes a real difference to their experiences and outcomes.

Finally, I hope you all enjoy a well-earned break, spend time with the people and things that make you happiest, and return in the new year rested, refreshed, and flu free.

Best wishes,

Jenn