Author: Shaun Williams, Executive Director, Engagement and Advancement
A shorter than usual UEB meeting this week, held on our Boldrewood campus, and immediately ahead of a formal meeting for several members of UEB with representatives from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council.
- The Vice-Chancellor opened the meeting by acknowledging the very sad news last week of the death of Her Majesty The Queen. We were honoured to be the first University to be granted a Royal Charter by The Queen, two months after her accession to the throne in 1952. The Vice-Chancellor has offered our deep condolences to the Royal Family as we join the rest of the nation in mourning.
- UEB heard that books of condolence have been placed in our Hartley Library and the Winchester School of Art Café for those who wish to pay their respects, and the University flag will be flown at half-mast as a mark of our respect during the period of formal national mourning. The University will be formally represented at the State Funeral on Monday, and at a commemoration service at Winchester Cathedral on Saturday evening.
- The date of the State Funeral has been designated as a bank holiday, and will be observed as such by the University with most teaching and formal University business suspended. Essential facilities including the Hartley and Health Services libraries, and our Student Hubs, will remain open. Detailed communication will be sent shortly to students who were expecting teaching or other activities on that day.
- Moving to other matters, UEB heard that the Open Day on Saturday had gone very well, with 2,500 prospective students attending. The atmosphere was very positive, but out of respect during the period of national mourning a number of more celebratory elements had been removed. A number of attendees took the opportunity to sign a book of condolence. UEB expressed its gratitude to all those who had been involved in making visitors welcome, and the day a success.
- There was a further update from the Website Oversight Board (WOB), chaired by the Vice-President (Operations), which is overseeing the highly complex transition of academic content to a new website platform. UEB heard a further comprehensive update on progress in addressing issues and concerns that have been raised was due to be published later that day. Current priority areas are ensuring factual accuracy; staff profiles; groups, centres or institutes; research projects; and system architecture. UEB was reassured that the WOB has an oversight on issues and priorities, and is providing strong direction and support to the various teams across the University involved in the project.
- UEB heard that following the recent announcement that UK Research & Innovation (UKRI) will be raising the minimum stipends for PGR students that they fund by 10% to reflect the cost of living crisis, we will shortly be updating our PGR students on the approach being taken in respect of other sources of research funding.
- UEB were saddened to hear that for personal family reasons Dr Giles Carden, our incoming Chief of Staff and Chief Strategy Officer, will not now be able to start with us as originally planned in October, and a later start date will need to be agreed.
- The meeting ended with a detailed review of the University Risk Register, and a discussion on a number of key issues including the need for ever-increasing vigilance around our cyber security. A further discussion is planned at UEB in two weeks’ time, including a review of the cyber security training we need all colleagues to participate in, to ensure our security.