Life under lockdown has brought a particular conundrum. The majority of us are spending the most time at home, but it’s hard to properly switch off from the pressures brought by COVID-19. Recently I learned most of the online content we are consuming falls into three categories all related to the virus – information about it, ways to deal with it and entertainment to escape it. My downtime is with my family, who are careful to see I take regular breaks from work and walks with the dog for fresh air.
We all need to maintain our mental and physical health and to nurture our relationships with those who are closest to us, whether they are near or far. This week, I was pleased to see our first ‘wellbeing check-in’ launched with a whole host of resources designed to help us get through these challenging times. Our work and home life at present are not ‘business as usual’ and indulging in a diverting online game or relaxing meditation might be just what you need. I hope you are making time for a break and to connect with the people around you.
I am becoming used to virtual meetings and I find it remarkable how quickly it has brought people closer together. Colleagues who are used to joining meetings remotely have enthused about how the dynamic changes for the better when everyone is participating online. I am looking forward to seeing people face to face once again, but we must make sure we do not lose this improved connectivity. Our Dubai campus was first to close two months ago and this week, my video call is with our Vice-Principal, Prof Ammar Kaka, who shares how staff and students are coping and how they are preparing to move to our new campus early next year – see what he has to say here.
Every day, I continue to be heartened by the response we are making to this crisis and the economic renewal we must deliver. Our Borders campus is doing great work and colleagues are being supported by volunteers to manufacture medical scrubs this week for healthcare workers. Further north, I was delighted to see the European Commission award one of its first Responsible Island Prizes for innovative renewable energy solutions to Orkney, where we continue to do so much to train, research and deliver talent to the island’s world class green energy sector. In Edinburgh, I am encouraged by the progress in delivering our responsive blended learning approach – this will take some time and care to evolve but it’s planned to enable us to resume learning and teaching in different flexible ways for different programmes for the 20/21 session. In Malaysia our Digital First Foundation Programme is underway and it was good to see the engagement of students and staff in their live streaming sessions. This is another ‘first’ in pioneering foundation education for us.
One of my initial actions when the extent of the COVID-19 challenge became clear, was to launch our #OneWatt appeal for our Student Emergency Support Fund, which has raised more than £21,000 to date. I have heard distressing stories of the burden some of our students are facing, and we are doing all we can to help. Fast emergency payments are offering an immediate helping hand to those in need, while our average grant payment of £500 is likely to rise as more complex cases are settled. We anticipate the increase in applications for much needed assistance will continue for some time before it peaks. Please give what money or time you can to our Student Emergency Support fund – together we can make a real difference and our Alumni team would be delighted to hear from you.
We have had some further news about UK government support for Higher Education this week, but it has been the start of a series of fiscal dialogues. I have been in contact with the Scottish Government and while we await their response it is clear that, in common with other COVID-19 processes, this too will be a step-wise process. I will be writing to everyone with a further financial update soon.
As always, thank you for your support and stay safe.
Professor Richard A. Williams
Principal and Vice-Chancellor