The good news is that a lower number of COVID-19 related deaths is being reported in the news across all our campus locations. I have noticed a certain air of relief starting to creep into the cross-university conversations but also, naturally, apprehension. While many are thinking what physically transitioning back to work may look like, it is still a process and at the moment the main message to staff is to continue to work from home wherever possible. So, what is the picture in our different locations?

In the Scottish campuses recent staff communications presented a view of what we can expect in the coming weeks (and months) as we await Government guidance to determine any further activities. To be frank, it has been frustrating waiting for a delayed implementation plan from the government, but a move into different ‘phases’ could happen fast, including changes to social distancing and return of airline services from certain places. However, much work is needing to be completed to meet the regulatory requirements associated with the safe opening of University buildings.

In Malaysia, after many weeks of total lockdown, the government enabled re-opening of the University on the 10th June 2020. It is very much a phased and cautious return for some core members of staff and PGR students and others requiring laboratory access. I received an uplifting video from Professor Mushtak Al Atabi, Provost of Heriot-Watt University Malaysia, looking upbeat and happy to be back on campus – join me on his virtual tour. Congratulations to the Health and Safety Team in Malaysia who managed to get the social distancing markers, one-way system, walkways and facilities ready and in place for the planned opening up.

In Dubai, our current campus remains partially open, mainly for student recruitment and other professional service functions. However, the campus remains closed to students and we are awaiting instructions from the UAE Ministry of Education as to when and how campus facilities will be allowed to re-open. Work on the new campus is progressing at a good pace and I was very pleased to hear that the Dubai Campus achieved a KHDA ‘five star’ rating for the second consecutive year. Only two institutions have such a record and Heriot-Watt is the only large-scale campus demonstrating this sustained excellence.

This week colleagues in Professional and Organisational Development have been holding the Global Staff Development Fair, giving everyone the opportunity to explore the diverse development support available to them at Heriot-Watt. The University is its people and as professional people we all have the desire to self-improve, there is plenty to dip into at the Fair to enable our progression and to talk to others about our development needs and ideas. I hope you enjoyed it.

Over many years Edinburgh Business School and EGIS have been successful in developing wholly on-line programmes for postgraduate and executive learning. We are needing, especially now, to build on this capability for selected high demand programme areas and to provide a stronger focus for the future in an increasingly competitive area. You can read further about this development of OnLine learning in this week’s staff news .

A year ago we were enjoying our Celebration Week across the group. In Edinburgh, it was a sun and rain-drenched week but with great memories of staff achievement in so many spheres. We had the pleasure of celebrating our values champions (see photo below) and on 25th June this year, we will do so again with over 200 nominations, in a digital world. This level of participation speaks to the importance of our values and the regard for them.

Last week I shared further details on the process and timeline associated with our financial planning. I hope you have all had a chance to visit Our Financial Challenge SharePoint site and to look at the options under consideration section, as well as some of the suggestions that have been sent to the suggestion4principal@hw.ac.uk inbox. I encourage you to please continue to send in your suggestions, comments and questions. The site will be updated regularly. More detailed announcements of regular open house Executive Briefings will be posted in the Staff News shortly.

Professor Richard A. Williams
Principal and Vice-Chancellor