A message from the Vice-Chancellor: Engagement

Wednesday, 03 September 2014

In a large and diverse organisation like the University, the question of how best to engage with staff is not straightforward to answer.  Messages like this, and other forms of e-communication, play their part. However, they are necessarily limited, both in the number of people they reach and in the extent to which they promote two-way debate.

Face-to-face engagement also has its complexities. Who initiates the engagement? On what issues? Who should be involved? How frequently? What is the appropriate balance between 'set-piece' events and simply being out and about around the campus (something I set great store by)? There is also the deeper question of the relationship between engagement and consultation.

These questions, and others in a similar vein, have been to the fore in recent months as the University's Executive Board (UEB) has been thinking about the implementation of our strategy. In doing so, UEB has been clear about its responsibility when it comes to leadership and setting direction. At the same time though, we have sought - and will continue to seek - as many opportunities to draw upon the collective wisdom of the University community. More on this to follow later in the autumn.

Student engagement

Many colleagues will know about the Reading Experience and Development (RED) Award, a way in which we engage with our students. This is an opportunity for students to seek accreditation for a range of activities they take up outside their academic studies.  A minimum of 50 hours is expected and this includes training and voluntary work. That can be supplemented by more volunteering, work experience or an internship.

I take great pleasure in signing personally all the RED Award certificates. I've been kept busy on that front over the past few months as 468 students completed the Award in 2013-14. 1,007 students in total now hold the Award and we will be doing much to encourage even greater participation in the academic year ahead.

New appointments

Last year, we made the decision to introduce Architecture as a new academic discipline here at the University. Although we will not be opening the course until 2016, we have recently appointed our Foundation Professor in Architecture. I am delighted to say that Professor Lorraine Farrelly will be joining us from the University of Portsmouth.

Lorraine has significant experience and is a great 'catch' for Reading. There is a lot to do before we get started but Lorraine's appointment is a significant milestone.

In a similar vein, I am also pleased that we are welcoming Associate Professor Parvathi Kumaraswami who will be heading up the development of Spanish at Reading. We look forward to our first undergraduates joining us in September 2015.

Cold shoulder

Finally, I succumbed - and did the Ice Bucket Challenge last week. How could I resist when the gauntlet had been laid down by RUSU?

You can watch my soaking here.

SIR DAVID BELL, VICE-CHANCELLOR