On optimism in pessimistic times
As we come to the end of 2018, it can be difficult to feel optimistic, given the state of national and global politics, the unrelenting criticism that universities continue to receive from the media and the government, and the very real prospect that the forthcoming Augar Review of fees and funding will recommend a reduction of resource to support higher education.
However, in the wake of all of this gloom, a week of graduation ceremonies acts as a welcome tonic. We have seen another cohort of students receive their degrees, in a celebration of their own hard work and the commitment of all our staff who teach and support them. So instead of dwelling on the parlous state of the world, I would like to use this end of year blog as an opportunity to highlight some of the events and encounters of 2018 that make me proud to be leading the University of Nottingham.
One of the pleasures of my role is the opportunity to spend time with staff, students and alumni across all our campuses—recognising their achievements and hearing about their ambitions. There were many events during the year that provided occasions for discussion and/or celebration.
Notable for me was a lunch I hosted with ‘Women in Ingenuity’—students and alumni who are starting careers as entrepreneurs. I was able to hear about their imaginative new business propositions and recognise the sheer grit required to succeed in the fast-moving world of start-ups.
I enjoyed attending a stimulating dinner discussion hosted by PVC Education and Student Experience, Sarah O’Hara, which recognised members of staff across the University who had distinguished themselves by winning awards or honours for their educational offering. This dinner brought together people who had shared interests but, in many cases, had never met each other before.
I was delighted to be part of the reception party that hosted HRH Princess Anne, the Princess Royal, when British Universities & Colleges Sport’s 'BUCS Big Wednesday' came to Nottingham. I am even more pleased that we have achieved the unprecedented honour of being able to host it twice in a row, as it will be returning to Nottingham in 2019 during BUCS’ centenary year.
In addition to these events, within a few days of each other, we had the exciting and brilliantly organised Knowledge Exchange & Impact Awards, which recognised staff achievements, and the annual long service awards, commemorating staff who have served the University tirelessly for an astonishing 25 years or more.
There was much to celebrate overseas as well. The Malaysia reputation campaign delivered a high public profile for the excellent research and teaching at UNMC, at a time when the British Council Going Global conference brought together higher education leaders from all over the world. We were able to host a large reception for this conference in the iconic Petronas Towers, thanks to the generosity of a distinguished alumnus, where all were able to hear about the research of our UNMC colleagues. In a show-stealing moment, Professor Martyn Poliakoff conducted an experiment, with Vicki Treadell, the Malaysian High Commissioner, acting in the role of his technician assistant.
In China too, there were momentous events during the year, including the opening of the new University of Nottingham Electrification Centre based in YuYao, Ningbo, and a visit by HRH Prince Andrew, Duke of York, to the UNNC campus. I was privileged to be a guest at an alumni dinner in Hong Kong, where those attending relayed anecdotes about their time as students at the University of Nottingham. Their sense of loyalty to the University was palpable, and many of them continue to support us in a variety of ways.
The launches and openings of new facilities in the UK to support our research, teaching and student experience were also memorable. External guests and funders were impressed with the state-of-the-art facilities at Sutton Bonington at the new Centre for Dairy Science Innovation. The opening of the new Cripps Health Centre has not only provided students with a fantastic new medical facility, but the expansion of space enables GPs and mental health practitioners, as well as researchers in the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, to work more closely together.
Most recently, the Advanced Manufacturing Building was officially opened on Jubilee Campus. Already the AMB has provided both a fantastic space for engineering research and a home for our outstanding Engineering Foundation degree. On the latter point, UEB recently had the privilege of meeting a large group of Foundation students and alumni who helped us recognise the tremendous quality of education they are receiving from this programme.
There is a great deal more that sticks in my mind: a recent visit to the School of Education to hear about their ground-breaking PGCE International degree - a blended learning programme that delivers professional training in 18 centres around the world; a tour of the Nanoscale and Microscale Research Centre, which is a model for how researchers working in different science and engineering disciplines can share equipment for the benefit of everyone; and giving the opening speech at the stunning Harold Gilman exhibition at Lakeside Arts. If you haven’t visited the exhibition yet, you are in for a treat.
On a personal note, I have benefitted hugely from my work this year with participants in my VC Mentoring Programme which supports staff from under-represented groups who have leadership aspirations. I have learned as much from my mentees as I hope they have learned from me, and have extended the numbers for the programme in the coming year, where I am sure I will again find this engagement revealing and productive. I have also had a special opportunity this year to be ‘reverse mentored’, with Stacy Johnson acting as my mentor to help me understand my own unconscious biases when working with BME staff – you can find out more about Stacy’s work here.
Of course, I have covered only a small selection of my personal highlights at Nottingham in 2018, but these and so many more have served to emphasise our many strengths: the people, the passion, and the values that make our University a successful and unique community. My UEB colleagues and I have resolved to bolster this community’s resilience in 2019 with continued focus on the staff covenant, stewarding our resources for the things that matter to us all – teaching, research, staff and students – and developing our new University Strategy together.
In closing, I return to my opening theme - it can be difficult to be optimistic about the external environment and we will no doubt need all of our community’s strengths to navigate the uncharted waters of 2019. However, reflecting on the year that has been gives me cause for optimism for the year ahead. No matter the many challenges we face, I know that our University will continue to thrive.
I want to thank each and every colleague for your hard work and commitment to the University and our students across 2018. However you celebrate this time of year, I wish you all a peaceful and relaxing time with your friends and family.
Professor Shearer West
Vice-Chancellor
12 December 2018