This week also sees the launch of our annual School of Textiles and Design Graduate show, virtual once again, but no less spectacular. At our previous All Staff Executive Briefing, Prof Fiona Waldron provided us with a sneak preview and I’m very much looking forward to viewing the show on Friday. Being virtual allows many more colleagues and students across the world to enjoy the wonderful work of our final year students. Congratulations to all those taking part and thank you to everyone involved in creating the show.
I’d like to thank everyone who took the time to send me a message following the announcement of the ‘thank you’ payment being made to all staff across our campuses in recognition of the exceptional efforts over this last year. I’m pleased this was so well received across our community. I also found it particularly touching that some of the messages to me were to request a method of donating this payment to our Student Hardship Fund or to a Bicentenary Appeal for Access & Inclusion fundraising. We are working through the details of how we can make this option available in the most tax-efficient way. I will post more information on this shortly.
I am glad we were able to share this week the good news that we received confirmation of the £20m of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) funding that will be provided to form a new Industrial Decarbonisation Research and Innovation Centre (IDRIC) to be based, virtually, at our Edinburgh campus. Headed by Prof Mercedes Maroto-Valor, this will be a world-leading centre providing an international focal point for collaboration and innovation as we tackle the UK and wider global climate change challenges. IDRIC is one of several key pillars in our cross-campus capabilities to lead out the so-called Net-Zero research agenda.
And congratulations go to our new student representative members across our global campuses who start their term on 1 June 2021. We have many new representatives joining to help enrich our student experience, and I’m sure many other colleagues, look forward to working with them during their time in office. The student leaders from across our campus locations gave a really heartening and positive presentation to our governing body about the student experience over the last academic year, especially valuing partnership working and keen to see further evolution of the Student Partnership Agreement ahead.
Finally, a quick reminder that the Staff Survey Briefing is on Monday, 31 May, at 9.30 -10.30 (UK) where our Provosts will provide further insight into the results from this year, and next steps. I hope many of you are able to join.
Professor Richard A. Williams
Principal and Vice-Chancellor