With our new academic year underway, we are all starting to get a feel for how everything is going to work in practice. The feedback so far has been positive, from both colleagues and students, as we get used to new technology, new routines and the new ways of working. It’s so important to know that we are playing a critical part in ensuring our students have an opportunity to continue their education and lives. As I mentioned at the All Staff Executive Briefing this week, I am sure we will not get everything right, but everybody is doing their best for sure. I’m sure some adjustments will be needed as we go along, as we continue to ensure we provide our students with the best possible teaching and learning experience. But we are off to a great start and over the coming weeks, we will be gathering feedback live from students and staff and sharing this.
Our University is not only about teaching but developing a wider sense of purpose and wellbeing in our community. Broader experiences are developed through our support services, clubs and associations and all have an important part to play. In line with our values, we must also provide help and support to all our students as they embark on a new phase of their life, and supporting each other has never been more important as we live through difficult times. This week, I spoke to Alistair Donald, our University Chaplain in Edinburgh, about how the Chaplaincy Centre is welcoming students, helping them adjust to this new-look university life, and how caring for our entire University community, of whatever faith, is so important. You can view the discussion here.
During the pandemic, supporting each other, working together and acting with respect and kindness is of the utmost importance. I know that the return of university students to cities and campuses is a big concern within local communities. It is inevitable that further cases of asymptomatic and symptomatic may arise with a second wave emerging, but there is poor understanding around the public health realities here. It is clearly wrong to pin this on the student population, and notions to keep students isolated and only online will drive towards their poor health and poorer public health. We need to assure good community behaviour and a radical commitment to deal rapidly with heath incidents as they arise. I have been pleased to work with the Students Union and Associations to develop clear practises for student behaviour and a clear pledge for our community. These measures and communication will be further emphasised over coming days. I thank our Global Learning and Teaching team as well as our student representatives for agreeing this pledge. The physical campuses are COVID compliant with distancing and cleaning measures all in place. This week has seen much activity in providing practical and political assurances on university life in Edinburgh and along with the other Principals we are committed to deliver these.
Next week, I’m excited to be in conversation with Sir Geoff Palmer, Professor Emeritus in the School of Life Sciences and human rights activist. Geoff is very much a part of the Heriot-Watt family, helping to set up our International Centre for Brewing and Distilling and securing international recognition for his work in grain science. Alongside his academic contributions, he has been the Executive and President of Edinburgh and Lothian Racial Equality Councils for over 20 years and has been extremely active in uncovering Scotland’s Black History and the role Scotland played in the Slave Trade. Some colleagues will recall the excellent lecture he gave two years ago on the Gibson-Craig (of Riccarton House, currently the site of our Edinburgh library) family role in abolition of slavery – it’s a fascinating connection to Heriot-Watt and I will be discussing this with him and the issues around Black Lives Matter.
I am keen that our whole University community is fully engaged in debating diversity and is ambitious in shaping the future thinking – especially as we enter our Bicentennial year. In advance of our session, if you would like to submit a question to Geoff, please email me on suggestion4principal@hw.ac.uk and I will do my best to pick up your question or point. Our conversation will be available to coincide with Black History Month. This provides an opportunity for our whole University community to be engaged and enthusiastic about how we celebrate and advance diversity.
Thank you to everyone who joined the Executive Briefing this week. Again, a large number of people were able to take part and we managed to answer a range of questions that you submitted. Both the slides and the recording of the session are now on the Sharepoint site, and we will add a BSL version as soon as possible. We will also post all the questions that were asked – with replies. I hope you will be able to join the October briefing on 22 October at 9am BST, as we continue to share with you both the important issues we are facing as a University, as well as updates on our Strategy 2025 in action.
Professor Richard A. Williams
Principal and Vice-Chancellor