Dear colleagues,
This update comes at the end of an important academic year for the University, and so I would like to take the opportunity to thank each and every one of you for the role you have played in the University’s success. The year has been important both in terms of the delivery of established and major new activities, and also the creation of new plans and opportunities to enhance the sustainable future of the organisation.
Firstly, in respect of the delivery of our mission, may I particularly congratulate you for the remarkable achievements we have seen across education, research, enterprise and student experience, with continuing strong performance in rankings positions at national and international level. It is pleasing to see the success right across the full range of our activities which led to our award as Times and Sunday Times University of the Year 2023 continuing to have impact.
For me, the 2023-2024 academic year has been a major one. It has witnessed the successful roll-out of the first year of Curriculum Transformation across our undergraduate courses. The success in the roll-out has demonstrated again that our community is able to achieve major initiatives which have, at times by some been deemed too difficult. I pay particular tribute to Julian Chaudhuri, Marion Harney, Fran Laughton and Peter Lambert, who with many colleagues have achieved so much in delivering this new educational framework for the University. Research has continued to advance with substantial growth in the total value of research awards in recent years, and in many fields there being a growth in the publication of 4* papers. With the continuing development of major new research activities, I do hope that the University will be well-placed for REF2029. I pay tribute to Sarah Hainsworth and all involved in research for their work here.
Secondly, major advances have been made in planning for the future of the University, this demonstrating clearly that Bath is a resilient organisation. Although it has not been widely recognised, there has been significant financial growth in recent years, with the total income planned for 2024/25 of £397M being significantly larger than the £288M which was the income the year before I took up the role of Vice-Chancellor. Throughout the time we have been financially prudent and expect to return a surplus again this year ensuring that we have the funds needed for essential future spending needs and to maintain our good financial health in the coming years. The new plan can give the organisation confidence that, provided it maintains its commitment to excellence and related attractiveness and reputation, and advances the new fields that have been initiated in recent years, it can address the sectoral challenges which have been so widely reported. With the new Institutes, along with continuing growth of IAAPS and iCAST, I have no doubt that provided real commitment to the University’s success is shown by all, the University can confidently embrace the future. I pay tribute to Steve Brammer, Martin Williams, Sharon Street, the other Deans and their colleagues for their work here, and also to Richard Brooks and his colleagues who have advanced significant new staff-related policies this year.
The year will also be recognised as a major one, indeed potentially a historic one, in respect of our capital planning. We have completed an assessment of the required campus work for the next 15 years and determined how the major interventions can be funded. We have also entered a joint agreement with B&NES Council to explore the development of the Bath Quays North site in the city of Bath. More information will follow shortly, but I pay tribute to Ghazwa Alwani-Starr and her colleagues for their work here. This exciting development potentially provides a unique opportunity for the University to roll out new areas of activity in a strategically important part of our most beautiful city. It is a tangible example of how our engagement with local authorities has advanced so strongly in recent years, as evidenced by the recent signing of the local Civic Agreement involving the University, B&NES, Bath Spa University and the Royal United Hospital. I pay tribute to Corinne Evans, Julie Barnett, Katrina Kelly and their colleagues who have worked so hard to achieve this.
2023-4 will also be seen as the year in which the major initiatives of the past few years have come to fruition. It will have been in several ways a record-breaking year, for example, with more than 50% being added to our endowment alone. I pay tribute to Gordon Cox and his colleagues for their work here.
This has been achieved despite continuing challenging times, with cost-of-living issues still significant for many, and with global conflict having caused suffering and very strong feeling in many across the University community. I pay particular tribute to our University community in being resilient under such difficult times, and particularly pay tribute to Rajani Naidoo in the early part of the year, Cassie Wilson, Jane White, the outstanding SU Leadership this year, and the student cultural and faith societies which have been most affected by the tragic events of this year. Their advice to me, and actions such as the Vigil held, will last long in my memory, and I do hope that the care and kindness which has been shown during such difficult times will continue as a fundamental principle of our University community. I am also delighted that Teslim Bukoye has been appointed Race Champion of the University and wish him every success in this important role.
I am delighted to see continuing great student success with very recent awards such as Blake Walker winning the award for University Student Role Model of the Year at the QSA2024 awards on 26th June. In respect of sport, I am delighted that so many Bath-based TeamGB athletes will be competing at the Olympics and Paralympics, and also that several students or past students representing other countries will be competing, including Tobi Sijuade 50m Freestyle for Nigeria (Sport & Exercise Science Graduate 2023), Henrique Mascarenhas 100m Freestyle for Angola (MEng(Hons) Chemical Engineering), and Ridhwan Mohamed 400m Freestyle for Kenya (MSc Automotive Engineering with Business Management). I wish them all every success.
This summer will also be very busy on campus with many summer schools, conferences and the international Maths Olympiad being hosted. These are important for the University in many practical and reputational ways, and I pay tribute to all who have attracted them to the University. I wish all activities every success.
The University of Bath is a very special place and in many ways its sustainability depends on this. The success of the University has resulted from all involved, often outside their comfort zones, creating a whole which is very much greater than the sum of its parts, with a role that is distinctive and of real value, integrity and purpose. Although I have no doubt that this purpose will continue to change and evolve, in the current sectoral environment, aspirations for excellence and achievement will be essential for future sustainability.
It has been a profound honour to be Vice-Chancellor and President of this wonderful University. Whatever our roles, we are all custodians of this institution. In our daily work, in the decisions we make and our interactions with one another, we hold in trust the future of this organisation and endeavour to ensure that tomorrow will be better than today for the generations to come. Thank you for everything you have contributed to the University and I wish you every success in the future.
With best wishes,
Professor Ian White Vice-Chancellor & President