Dear colleagues,
I would like to start this week by considering the cost of living crisis we are currently facing in the UK and to assure you that the University is focused on helping to address the challenges ahead for colleagues.
The circumstances we face are unprecedented in more than a generation and the squeeze on household budgets created by rising energy costs and increasing inflation have created a set of very difficult circumstances. The University recognises this and in the coming weeks we will be announcing a series of measures designed to support our staff through the coming winter. I will be highlighting these in my weekly messages as they are rolled out.
On a more positive note, with the new Semester starting in less than a fortnight, I have sent a welcoming email on behalf of the entire University community to our new and returning students.
Like me, I am sure you are all looking forward to seeing our students returning to campus, enjoying in-person teaching, and benefitting from the full range of opportunities and experiences our University has to offer.
The new Semester will also allow all of us to meet and collaborate with more of our colleagues with renewed vigour as we continue to work towards the realisation of our strategic plan, Vision 2025.
As we near the halfway point of Vision 2025, we now have an opportunity to begin planning the next phase of Strathclyde’s journey and to capitalise on our institutional momentum, distinctiveness and successes.
Earlier this week, over two days, the Executive Team met in person in TIC to begin the development of our next Strategic Plan, which will take us up to 2030.
At two extended sessions – the latter one involving broader representation from across the University’s leadership community – we began the process of mapping out Strathclyde’s direction to 2030. There were broad and stimulating discussions on:
- Our people
- Strathclyde’s distinctiveness
- Learning and teaching
- Research excellence
- Innovation
- Internationalisation
- Digital Future
- Our campus
- Finances
As this is the start point of developing our future course, the discussions were wide-ranging and new ideas and approaches were encouraged – all with the aim of underlining our position as a socially progressive, Leading International Technological University.
This mission has set us apart from others in the sector and by 2030 we will have grown our influence, reach and position by deploying our Strathclyde distinctiveness across all of our activities.
As the strategy begins to come together, we will be consulting with colleagues from across the University to seek input and to develop our plans. This will also involve structured engagement with Senate, Court, Leadership Group and representative groups of staff and students from all parts of the Strathclyde community.
Your contributions will be invaluable, because it is our people that lie at the heart of our strategy and our mission to make a positive difference to the lives of our students, to society, and to the world.
Our Strathclyde People Strategy recognises that it is your collective talents, effort and commitment that will deliver the University’s ambitious Vision for 2025 and beyond.
It is our staff who exemplify our values: People Oriented, Innovative, Collaborative, Ambitious and Bold.
Last year’s Values survey revealed that 90% of colleagues believe the University is strongly aligned to our Values and 82% agree that Strathclyde is a great place to work.
In response to your feedback in that survey, and to support our commitment to stable contracts as part of our Strathclyde Pledge, we have recently completed a review of fixed-term contracts.
This has resulted in around 100 people, with service beyond three years, being moved from fixed-term to open-ended contracts – a reduction of 30% of staff in this category over the last year. A commitment has also been given that in the future, where possible, fixed-term contracts will be less than three years’ duration, with any going beyond this period being supported by a compelling reason. This review of fixed-term contracts will continue on an annual basis.
In addition, over the summer as part of the University’s continued commitment as a socially progressive employer, our Flexible Working Policy has been updated and enhanced to remove the qualifying requirement for staff to have at least 26 weeks of continuous employment with the University before submitting a flexible working application. Now, the procedure applies to all staff as a right from day one.
We are committed to supporting our people. You are at the heart of what we do and you will form the driving force of our new strategy.
Finally, I am delighted that Strathclyde has been shortlisted in the Times Higher Education Awards 2022 for Outstanding Entrepreneurial University and Outstanding Library Team. This recognition is testament to the quality of our staff – academics, professional services and support teams – and, to the first class education and experience we provide for our students. I look forward to the winners being announced on 17 November.
Enjoy the rest of your week and have a good weekend when it comes.
Best wishes,
Jim