Dear colleagues,
At Strathclyde we pride ourselves on providing an outstanding education and experience for our students.
Our commitment to delivering a distinctive and innovative curriculum, which fosters academic excellence and inclusive lifelong achievement, is central to our founding mission as the ‘place of useful learning’ and is the first goal in our Strategic Plan, Vision 2025.
At the heart of this learning experience is our partnership with our diverse student body and the role they play in enhancing their experience, engaging in decision-making and in implementing change.
It is in this spirit that, tomorrow, the Executive Team will meet with their University of Strathclyde Students’ Association (Strath Union) counterparts, led by Student President Adam Morrow, to listen to and discuss the issues most important to them. We set up this ‘Exec-to-Exec’ meeting as a result of plans emerging from my regular meetings with the Student President where we identify challenges and partnering opportunities to benefit our students.
One of the issues we will discuss is the three days of national industrial action scheduled by the University and College Union (UCU) to take place later this month – on 24, 25 and 30 November, with Unite also taking action on 30 November.
We recognise union members’ right to take industrial action; however, we are resolved to ensure we minimise any disruption to our students during this time. Shortly, we will be writing to all students to make them aware of our plans for these days and how this might affect them.
The Executive Team also recognises the cost-of-living pressures that are driving the national demand for wage rises. It was in order to reduce the impact of these pressures that we approved a non-consolidated payment for all staff, weighted according to grade, to be paid in this month’s salary, and also immediately enacted the new higher rate Voluntary Living Wage in October.
I am sure, too, that in keeping with our Values, we will continue to work together in a courteous and respectful manner despite the forthcoming industrial action and any differing views that we may have as colleagues.
At yesterday’s scheduled Senate meeting, members were updated on the development of our next five-year Strategic Plan and asked for their input. This was part of our consultation on the evolution of our successful strategy which takes us through to 2030 and follows similar sessions we ran with the Executive Team and Leadership Group. Further consultations will take place over the coming weeks and months to enable all colleagues to contribute to shaping our plans going forward.
It is through our collective efforts that we advance our mission to reach outside of the University to make the world better educated, sustainable, prosperous, healthy, fair and secure.
Our success in this endeavour is clear: this evening I will be attending the Times Higher Education Awards 2022 ceremony in London at which Strathclyde is shortlisted in two categories: Outstanding Entrepreneurial University and Outstanding Library Team.
Regardless of the final outcome, I would like to congratulate the teams involved for being shortlisted. Our regular inclusion as nominees in these awards – the most prestigious in the UK HE sector – reflects the hard work and commitment of our staff who embody our values in everything they do.
Finally, with the date for the coronation of King Charles III set for Saturday 6 May, a bank holiday has been proclaimed for Monday 8 May, and I can confirm that the University will be closed to mark the occasion.
Enjoy the rest of the week and have a good weekend when it comes.
Best wishes,
Jim