Author: Shaun Williams, Executive Director, Engagement and Advancement
A shorter than usual UEB meeting this week, due to a number of other meetings taking place, so a relatively brief Blog this week.
Operating in Gold Command mode, UEB discussed several operational and campus issues:
- COVID case numbers in our university community and our local communities continue to be monitored closely, with case numbers seeing some increases in recent days.
- There was an update on the return to campus by our staff and students, as teaching resumes after the January assessments, and with the lifting of the Government’s work from home guidance. Our approach continues to be a sensible and phased one, recognising we are still in a period where some measures are still required in our working environment, and also balancing the needs of individual roles and the needs of the institution with individual preferences. The importance of a regular presence on campus for our staff was underlined, the frequency of that presence to be determined by the nature of the role and in ongoing discussion with line managers. A further update on our longer-term Future Ways of Working project, informed by a number of pilots, is expected next month.
- International travel continues to be an area governed by complex and often changeable country-specific rules. Our specific COVID advice about travel has reverted to our travel policy and the travel toolkit, with approval made at local level. As the COVID implications on travel start to recede, we need to be mindful too of the sustainability impact of our international and UK travel, an issue we will return to ahead as we develop further our Sustainability strategic plan.
- Finally, UEB heard that our saliva testing programme is now included and compatible with the NHS App, where results can be recorded.
The meeting then reverted to normal UEB mode to discuss a number of other issues:
- UEB warmly welcomed today’s announcement of the flagship Anniversary Fellowship Scheme, an exciting opportunity for exceptional early-career researchers to advance their research careers, as part of the new University Strategy and to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the University’s Royal Charter.
- UEB noted that February is LGBT+ History Month 2022, in celebration of which the University raised the flag at Highfield Campus in an act of allyship and as a symbol of inclusivity.
- Finally, there was an update on developments at national level in respect of the USS Pension Scheme, and the regular review of the University Risk Register.