There is no end in sight yet to the Coronavirus pandemic, but across our campus network there is a great deal of work underway to map our routes out of lockdown. Over the past week, I’ve developed a strong sense we are moving to a different phase in our response. It’s hard to overstate how proud I am of what we have achieved together in recent weeks, and our efforts have been beautifully summarised in this short video which was very well received when it was shown to University Court members at our recent strategy day.
For some campus locations it is now becoming possible to be planning a managed transition back to our work and learning spaces at some point in the future. There is a lot to do before then, and I must ask for your continued patience because even when the official restrictions are lifted there may be a further wait before we can safely access our buildings. In the meantime, please do not attempt to access any campus building unless you have secured full permission to do so.
As well as the practical arrangements we must make, I recently wrote to everyone to outline the scale of the corresponding financial challenge, and I hope you will all be able to engage with the briefing sessions we are holding to provide further information. This will be an ongoing process and I will continue to keep you informed as the situation progresses. I’d also welcome hearing your comments and suggestions in response, and you can send these to a special email address suggestion4principal@hw.ac.uk.
In this uncertain world, we do know exactly how our new academic year will start as planned in September. I’d encourage everyone to make the most of the forthcoming Learning and Teaching week events, which will include the launch of our new support programme Introducing Responsive Blended learning. Our new flexible approach to learning and teaching is going to enable us to deliver high-quality education experiences to our global student community wherever they may be. I applaud our Learning and Teaching Academy’s ability to deliver this sector leading programme. Very few Universities are as well placed as Heriot-Watt to achieve this. However as everyone is well aware, this is going to involve a great deal of effort.
This week I caught up by video call with Ross Campbell, Executive Director of the Oriam Sports performance centre on our Edinburgh campus. Ross shares a commitment to the benefits sport and exercise can bring to mental health and wellbeing. Most of the Oriam staff are currently on furlough, but the Oriam YouTube channel has a range of videos to help anyone exercise at home. Ross also talks through some valuable tips on how to maintain an active lifestyle while working from home. I hope you will find our conversation as useful as I did and take time to think about looking after your own wellbeing during work hours.
With best wishes
Professor Richard A. Williams
Principal and Vice-Chancellor