Dear colleagues,
This week’s welcome news that Omicron cases have fallen significantly in Scotland over the last fortnight brings a real sense of optimism for the months ahead. While COVID-19 continues to present challenges, the improving situation means that from Monday 24 January, most of Scotland’s remaining COVID-19 restrictions will be lifted.
Importantly, colleagues should be aware that some safety measures will remain in place, including wearing face coverings in public places, the regular use of lateral flow tests, and working from home wherever possible.
I will convene our Executive Team next week to consider what the national changes mean for Strathclyde and to discuss when it will be appropriate for us to review the voluntary additional measures we introduced in August. I will write to you again next Thursday with a further update on our plans.
To support our University community in regular testing, I am pleased to confirm that we have opened a third Collection Point for students and staff to pick up Lateral Flow Test Kits on campus. From today (Thursday) you will be able to pick up tests at the Student Experience Helpdesk on Level 4 in the Learning and Teaching Building. The service will be available Monday to Friday from 11am to 2pm and is in addition to the existing Collection Points in the Livingstone Tower café area, and Strathclyde Sport reception.
It really is encouraging to see such positive progress, particularly after the challenges we have all faced throughout the pandemic, and the downwards trend in positive cases will bring a sense of relief for our University community, our families and friends.
Earlier this week, our Leadership Group met to discuss in detail the results of our 2021 Values Survey. You will recall that in my message of 16 December, I shared some of the top-level results of the survey, which showed that the vast majority of colleagues feel the University remains strongly aligned to its values.
While the survey results were extremely positive, we are listening carefully to your feedback and undertaking detailed analysis to help make improvements at Faculty, Department / School and Directorate level. I would like to thank you once again for engaging with the survey and taking the time to help shape our next chapter.
As a valued colleague, you are at the heart of our People Strategy and Vision 2025 plans and I would ask you to continue to engage with us and share your thoughts over the coming year. An important way of doing this is through our Strathclyde Innovation Forum, which was set up to help share ideas and new thinking to make our work more efficient, our jobs more enjoyable, and ultimately, to make our University more successful to the benefit of us all.
You can read more about the impact of your ideas on our website.
Have a great weekend when it comes, and here’s to a successful, happy and healthy 2022.
Best wishes,
Jim