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University of Reading

Start of Term message from Vice-Chancellor Sir David Bell

Monday, 08 January 2018

Sir David Bell

Vice-Chancellor Sir David Bell welcomes staff and students back to the University of Reading at the start of the spring term. A copy of his message to staff is available below. 

 

Colleagues

A very happy new year to you. I hope you had an enjoyable Christmas break and are looking forward to the spring term. 

This is an important year for higher education, with the new Office for Students (OfS) taking over the regulation of the sector from April 2018 – the same month that UK Research and Innovation assumes responsibility for £6 billion spending on research and innovation.

First, though, I would like to share some key priorities and developments at the University over the next few months:

A better workplace for everyone

Creating a better workplace for all of our people is a major priority. So just before Christmas, Steve Mithen, our Deputy Vice-Chancellor, shared an update on the ‘People Project’. I am delighted that 19 colleagues, representing a cross-section of the University community, have joined the Project Board to contribute to and guide its work. The Board has three priorities for the year – developing our employer brand, change management and leadership and management development – and is keen to involve as many members of our community as possible. Look out for further updates on the project and the opportunities to get involved.

More study spaces for our students

We are taking a number of actions to address the feedback from students that it is sometimes difficult to find study space in the URS Building during peak periods of 10.30 am-4 pm on weekdays. From the 15 January, there will be:

  • additional study space at Eat at the Square: Open after lunch from 3-6 pm (Monday to Friday, during term time), Eat at the Square will provide additional study space as well as refreshments from the Grumpy Mule;
  • extended Chancellor’s Building opening hours: Chancellor’s Building will be available to use as study space from 6-9pm (Monday to Friday, during term time); and
  • an updated Study Space Map: An updated map will make it easier for students to find alternative study space, in addition to that offered in the URS Building and the above new sites. The Study Space Map will be extensively promoted across campus through print and digital signage.

If you work with students, please make them aware of these developments. The Library refurbishment page has other information that students may find useful.

Understanding the student experience better

This year, for the first time, we will be asking all our undergraduate students to complete a survey – with a view to understand better what they think. In turn, this should enable us to make changes that will improve further the student experience at Reading.

In addition to the existing National Student Survey (NSS) for undergraduate finalists, we will be inviting undergraduate non-finalists to participate in two other surveys:

  • UK Engagement Survey (UKES) – anonymous and independent, run by the Higher Education Academy from February to April, with questions relating to students’ academic experience; and
  • Reading Student Survey (RSS) – anonymous, managed internally by the University from February to April, with questions relating to our provision of support services and other campus facilities.

A campaign to promote these surveys to our students will be launched soon, and colleagues across the University have an important role to play in this. In the last NSS, around 40% of the online respondents said a lecturer or a member of staff had told them about the survey.

NSS data remains an important tool for helping prospective students make decisions about what and where to study in the future. Note that you can encourage eligible students to complete the survey as long as no ‘inappropriate influence’ is exerted. HEFCE defies ‘inappropriate influence’ as ‘any activity which may encourage students to reflect anything other than their true opinion of their experiences during their course in their NSS responses.’

You can find more information in The National Student Survey Good Practice Guide

Sector-wide developments

Among wider sector-related developments, the most important to us include the new Office for Students (OfS), UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and the Brexit negotiations. With its focus on promoting choice and ensuring that students receive value for money, the decisions of the OfS will affect how we operate. As a research-intensive university, the establishment of UKRI is another important development for us. UKRI will bring together the seven Research Councils, Innovate UK and a new organisation, Research England – overseeing the distribution of £6 billion of research funding annually.

On Brexit, 2018 will be a crucial year for talks between the UK and the European Union. The deal agreed between the two sides in December has given staff and students from the EU some clarity about their status for the period immediately following Brexit. It also means that that UK universities, students and researchers will continue to be able to participate in Horizon 2020 and Erasmus+ until the programmes’ end dates. Over the coming year, we will be working through Universities UK to secure an effective post-exit settlement for universities. John Brady has sent a briefing note/FAQs, for all EEA staff earlier this month, you can read the details here.

All staff briefing sessions

There will be an opportunity to explore these and other issues of importance to the University at my staff briefing sessions. These are scheduled for:

  • Monday 19 February 2018 (1-2 pm) – LO22 G01, London Road
  • Tuesday 20 February 2018 (10-11 am) – National Grid, Greenlands
  • Wednesday 21 February 2018 (1-2 pm) – Madejski Theatre, Whiteknights

All staff are welcome to attend. I look forward to seeing you then.

Kind regards.

David

Sir David Bell KCB

Vice-Chancellor