One of the lovely features of our bicentenary year is that various people have made suggestions on how to mark this special occasion. I am very grateful to Emeritus Professor Patrick Corbett for the inspiration behind our Heriot-Watt University Heritage Walk through Edinburgh. It’s a great way to learn about the lives of past alumni of the University since 1821 and to experience their role along with other citizens of the time in shaping the city of Edinburgh. This history is the DNA that has also fed into our own lives of today’s global University community. Please enjoy the walk and do share it with friends.
At the beginning of this week, International Women’s Day was celebrated around the world and I was very pleased to see so many people across the University involved across our campuses and communities. Picking up on our rich history of equality and inclusion, also featured in the Heritage Walk story, we were one of the first institutions in 1869 to admit women for the purpose of study. And we continue, on a daily basis, to focus on equality, diversity and inclusion through the Athena Swan commitments and best practices. This year’s International Women’s Day developed a theme of #ChooseToChallenge, inviting us to take a personal role in helping forge a gender equal world for all women, recognising women’s different lived experiences. Further details are at #HWUEquality and on the Athena Swan webpage.
As a pioneering University we are rarely short of examples of firsts. Last week saw another first, the digital online conferment of an Honorary Degree of Doctor of the University on Datuk Seri Michael Yam Kong Choy. The digital congregation was based in the UK and Malaysia and included guests (on live YouTube broadcast) from the USA and Australia. Dr Yam has an incredible life story as a ‘world shaper’ in construction in the UK and Asia and senior business leader in banking and retail. I managed to get my gown and scroll out at my home and through our respective home locations the ceremony was one of dignity and celebration. It worked better than I imagined it might! The laureation was given by Professor Lynne Jack, Associate Principal (International Research) for EGIS. Also in attendance was Professor Mushtak Al-Atabi, CEO and Provost of Heriot-Watt University Malaysia, Mr Grant Innes, the Chair of our Governing Body, The Court, and Datuk Yasmin Mahmood, Chair of the Board of Heriot-Watt University Malaysia. Dr Yam will be joining a future physical graduation to speak with graduands in Malaysia.
May I thank those colleagues who joined the All Staff Executive Briefing last week and for those who expressed a view in our ‘live poll exercise’, in which we sought preferences for featuring some other aspects of University life in future briefings. The poll indicated there was a preference to hear more about our Global Environmental and Sustainability strategy and work – and this will now be planned into the next event. Speaking of polls, our Annual Staff Survey will open next week. May I invite everyone to make a point of taking part. In so doing you can share your experience and offer advice on how we can work together to be an even more successful and inclusive University. By sharing our experiences, we can enable changes that will benefit us all.
Professor Richard A. Williams
Principal and Vice-Chancellor