Author: Shaun Williams, Executive Director Engagement and Advancement
- UEB were delighted to hear that it would be announced later that day that two Southampton-led Centres for Doctoral Training (CDT) would be amongst 65 Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) funded CDTs nationwide to receive more than £1 billion in funding. The funding will help to prepare the next generation of researchers, specialists and industry experts across a wide range of sectors and industries.
- UEB noted the recent re-election of Dr Jo Grady for a second term as General Secretary of the University and College Union (UCU). Commenting on the outcome of the election, Raj Jethwa, the Chief Executive of the Universities and Colleges Employers’ Association (UCEA) said: “We all have a responsibility to set aside recent disagreements and disputes and employers are eager to overcome the annual cycle of disputes and explore with UCU and other trade unions how best to achieve this.”
- UEB were advised of a future change to the Professional Services leadership team, with the news to be shortly that Mal Allerton, our CIO and Executive Director of iSolutions, has announced his intention to leave the University at the end of June, to return to his own consultancy business. The Vice-President (Operations) expressed her gratitude for his commitment and service to the University over the past six years.
- UEB were reminded that the Southampton Science and Engineering Festival (SOTSEF), organised by our Public Engagement with Research unit, started last Friday, with a record number of exhibitors signed up for this coming Saturday’s Science and Engineering Day 2024. This annual event is a fantastic showcase and outreach event for the University, with several thousand visitors expected, and UEB expressed its huge appreciation to all those who have been involved in organising the event, and who will be supporting it in different ways on the day.
- UEB were pleased to hear that the University has been shortlisted in the Postgraduate category for the 2024 Whatuni Student Choice Awards (WUSCAs), where institutions are solely judged and reviewed by students. The awards ceremony takes place in London on 24 April.
- Finally, there was the regular review of the University Risk Register, which has seen some minor updates to dates since its last review.