Dear Colleagues,
Ahead of the Easter holidays I would like to wish you and yours a restful and enjoyable long weekend break.
As we and all of society face the continuing challenges of the pandemic, I am aware that many colleagues and their loved ones have been directly affected and I would like to take this opportunity to offer my support and understanding to those of you facing the impacts of this illness.
As we look forward to the extended weekend, it is timely that we reflect that the extra days leave - which most of us will take tomorrow and Tuesday next week - are a well-deserved thank you to you as part of our Times Higher Education UK University of the Year celebrations. Your professionalism, dedication and contributions won this national award and it is right that staff are thanked for what is a remarkable achievement.
It is that same professionalism and dedication which, over recent weeks, has seen us collaborate, achieve a remarkable transformation in the way we work and ensure that the health, safety and wellbeing of our staff and students have been front and centre of our collective efforts. Her Majesty the Queen addressed the nation on Sunday, saying that she hoped in the years to come we will take pride in how we responded. There is no doubt that Strathclyde colleagues – both present and future - will look back and recognise that we came together as a community. I am truly proud of what we have achieved together so far.
As a values-driven organisation, the current situation is helping us to demonstrate resilience and showcases our values through everything we do. Some examples include:
- People-oriented: we quickly recognised the pressure that everyone is experiencing and the Executive Team introduced two further days of leave to allow for rest and recuperation. Other institutions have followed our lead in this area.
- Bold: our on-campus staff have shown tremendous commitment and professionalism in keeping vital services running, without whom we could not have delivered for our students nor continue to maintain the integrity of our estate.
- Innovative: multi-disciplinary research teams and colleagues in our new Health and Care Futures groups are focussed on supporting the NHS and care organisations through the current pandemic and beyond.
- Collaborative: colleagues from across the faculties and professional services have worked hand-in-hand to develop our new Wellbeing & Working from Home Hub
- Ambitious: we suspended face-to-face teaching, moved to online delivery and changed our strategy for examination and assessment in a matter of days. We are moving to virtual delivery in other areas including student recruitment.
I also know that many of you are volunteering in your local communities, providing support to existing charities and fundraising to help vulnerable people. To make volunteering easier for you we have now established our institutional approach to voluntary work and we have added Frequently Asked Questions for staff and students to our webpages.
Please enjoy the days ahead and have a relaxing and peaceful Easter break.
Best wishes,
Jim