VC's Introduction
Teaching is mostly completed for the year and we are now in the midst of the main assessment period. It’s a challenging time in the best of circumstances but this year has been even more challenging as we not only continue to live with Covid but we also manage the disruption of the recent cyber incident.
I want to express again my thanks to Jon Ward and his IS teams for all that they have done over the last several weeks. The sheer scale of the task to firstly secure all our IT systems and then bring them safely back online was staggering but we are making great progress. The incident has had an impact on us and we will be learning what we can from the experience. None of us want to go through this experience again. I want to thank all staff for their patience while Jon and his team have undertaken the work. I also want to say thank you for continuing to do such an incredible job of supporting our students through this period and guiding them during these final few weeks of the academic year.
We have now received, after almost seven weeks of intensive investigation, the final report on the incident from our cyber forensic experts who have been supporting us throughout. I am pleased to report a number of key highlights of that report:
- After all of their detailed investigations and based on the available evidence, it is unlikely that any sensitive data was taken as a result of the incident. This is a great relief for ourselves and all our partners.
- There are a number of measures that can be taken to improve our security with continuous improvement necessary into the future. It is clear that attacks like this on Universities will become even more common in the future. It does mean making our very open network more controlled with greater central oversight, but this needs to be balanced against the huge disruption when events like this happen.
- The actions of our staff in IS following the incident have been praised as an exemplar for the sector with backup arrangements proving effective, although of course there will still be improvements we can make.
The report is very helpful for us and clearly the important issue with any event like this is to learn from what has happened. This experience is an important reminder to us all to continue to be vigilant with our data and information such as passwords, not just at work but at home too.
On a more positive note, I share in this bulletin updates on our Portfolio Review, upcoming Civic University and Revolution Plastics events and our new Ravelin Sports Centre - all important activities for us as a forward looking and ambitious University. I also reflect on our Covid Testing programme and our first ever virtual graduation ceremony where we were finally able to celebrate with our students.
I know everyone is tired after a difficult fourteen months and resilience may be waning. The finish line is in sight and working together we will get there and then hopefully enjoy some form of well-deserved summer holiday.
Portfolio Review
The University is beginning a detailed review of our undergraduate portfolio of courses. This is part of our Vision to be the top modern university and one of the top 100 young universities globally by 2030. The first half of our Vision is captured in our Strategy 2025 which commits us to (i) meet changing student demand and widen participation and (ii) engage every student in a life changing experience. To realise these strategic commitments, we must offer courses that applicants want to study and that give students the skills to succeed in their chosen careers. Inevitably, the review will mean some change, including opportunities for new courses and investment in course growth. Given our Strategy, and the increasingly difficult political and funding climate, continuing as we are without making improvements in our course portfolio is not an option.
The need for change has been emphasised by our declining position in recent league tables, including the newly published Complete University Guide 2022 where we have fallen 12 places to 73rd due to worsening graduate outcomes in terms of progression to employment or further study.
Our review will be supported by PWC whose experience and expertise will provide a robust evidence-base for our decision-making. PWC’s work will include market and competitor analysis, a review of educational and employment outcomes, as well as insight on future proofing the University offer so that it remains relevant to students over the next 5-10 years.
UEB will review PWC’s recommendations from September onwards, taking account of wider changes including the forthcoming Government comprehensive spending review which is anticipated to impact on HE funding, fee levels, and access, as well as the analysis of student demand and outcomes.
I appreciate that some may feel that this isn’t the right time to undertake this review immediately following a very difficult year. However, given our obligation to offer the best we can to our students and our ambitious Strategy and Vision, combined with a more demanding set of government expectations of Universities, failure to review our course portfolio at this stage will not be in the University’s long-term interests.
Hosting our first Virtual Graduation
The end of last month saw a day that felt as though it was a very long time coming. It was great to be able to finally formally celebrate the graduation of a number of our 2020 cohort of students at our first Virtual Graduation. Being a virtual ceremony didn’t detract from the importance, or the emotion, for our graduates, or indeed our staff. Using new technology to deliver these ceremonies within a short timescale has involved a real team effort and I’m immensely grateful to colleagues in DSAA and across the University for taking on the challenge and making these wonderful events memorable.
Staff across the University are now working hard getting everything in place for our virtual and in person ceremonies in July. With 48 ceremonies over three weeks it's a huge undertaking for the team, but I know we are all excited at the prospect of being able to hold graduation this year and celebrate with our students. This assumes, of course, that changes to planned lifting of restrictions do not in any way prevent them from happening!
Civic University and Revolution Plastics events
There’s an opportunity this month to hear updates and ask questions about two key elements of our University strategy.
On 16 June, Bernie Topham and Prof Steve Fletcher will bring staff up to date on current actions the University is taking on climate and sustainability, as well as providing an opportunity to discuss how we might move towards becoming climate positive. The University has committed to work towards becoming climate positive by 2030, which is one of the most ambitious climate targets of any university in Europe.
A week later on 23 June, Prof Sherria Hoskins will provide an update on our journey to becoming a civic university. We're committed to enhancing the local community and region through our research, services, estate, and staff and student collaboration.
I know from my own inbox that both of these ambitious commitments are not just key parts of our strategy but are very close to the hearts of many of us, so I hope you will take this chance to find out more and seek ways to personally support these activities.
UCEA - University annual pay offer
Negotiations have been completed for the New JNCHES annual pay round 2021-22 through our collective bargaining arrangements with The Universities and Colleges Employers Association (UCEA) and Trade Unions. UCEA has put forward to Unions a final offer for the 2021-22 pay round. The Unions will now take the final offer to their respective committees and conferences.
The final offer that has been made to trade unions is a 1.5% pay increase. Those staff who are lower on the pay spine (Point 22 and below) are in line to receive a higher percentage pay rise in the range of 1.54% to 3.6%.
These negotiations have taken place at a time when the HE sector continues to face significant uncertainty and challenges such as Covid-19, Brexit, possible government funding changes in the context of the autumn spending review and significant increases in employers’ pension contributions. Taking all of these factors into account, this seems to be the best outcome possible under the circumstances and is comparable with the outcomes for other sectors. UCEA’s members are committed to providing meaningful and sustainable pay uplifts which acknowledge the tremendous contribution and hard work of staff throughout the last year.
We will share specific information regarding the exact increase you will be awarded over the coming weeks. Pay increases will take effect from August, once the trade unions have considered the offer.
Covid Testing
This month has brought a change to our approach to providing Covid lateral flow tests for staff and students who are asymptomatic as we closed our Spinnaker test centre and moved to home testing kits. Last summer when we were working hard to prepare the University for delivering our students education safely we knew that fast and effective testing would be key. Ahead of the sector, and any guidance from the Government, we decided to set up our own testing programme. Our decision to invest resources in this has been shown to be the right one time and again. After starting as a pilot it ended up testing hundreds of staff and students every day at the Spinnaker Sports Centre.
I want to thank those staff who have made such a success of this testing programme. This is from those working day-to-day in the test centre, through to those who have supported our students to successfully and safely self isolate, and those who ensured our students could continue with their studies. I also want to thank staff and students for playing their part, following the guidelines and getting regularly tested. Through this comprehensive approach we have been able to manage infection rates within the University community and keep our campus a safe place to be.
Ravelin Sports Centre update
Ravelin Sports Centre is taking shape as the internal finishes continue to be installed and our new sports facilities take a step closer to becoming a reality. This outstanding facility, set in Ravelin Park, includes a 25m 8 lane swimming pool, 175 station fitness suite, climbing wall and bouldering area, ski simulator and 8 court sports hall. Over the last two months the squash courts and bouldering area have been installed. In the fitness suite, timber ceilings and lighting have been fitted alongside Portland stone on the ‘ravelin’ walls of the stair core and dry changing area. This use of natural materials extends throughout. In the sports hall, timber wall panelling gives a wonderful warmth to the vast space. The pool area is currently being tiled and spectator seating has been fitted. Outside the community orchard has been planted and new pathways laid.
Our new sports centre will benefit our health and the environment. Hebe Hemming, one of our sports students explains in a blog, why she is looking forward to Ravelin Sports Centre opening and how our impressive facility will have a positive effect for physical health but also general wellbeing.
