Acting VC briefing sessions: video and presentation
Wednesday, 14 November 2018
Delivering a better student experience, strategic projects and partnerships and financial challenges facing the University were among the topics covered in the Acting Vice-Chancellor Robert Van de Noort briefing sessions last week.
The sessions at Greenlands, Whiteknights and London Road campuses attracted a high demand for places, and many of our colleagues were unable to attend the sessions. We have arranged a video recording of the London Road session for you.
In his presentation, Robert said that the University’s investment into enhancing the student experience was starting to deliver its first results. He highlighted the new café and study spaces on the ground and first floors of the Library as one of the examples of this.
Over the summer, the Ditchburn and Slingo (formerly: Right Hand) lecture theatres in the JJ Thomson building have had a complete makeover; Dol.che Vita café reopened after a major refurbishment; RUSU’s 3Sixty has been transformed into a modern student union venue; and, Modern Languages and European Studies moved to the Miller building.
The Acting Vice-Chancellor said that improving the student experience must go hand in hand with developing strategic partnerships that help the University build on its strengths. He said the development of the Thames Valley Science Park, the work with the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts and Berkshire Healthcare Foundation Trust and the development of new collections storage and research facility for British Museum were partnerships that will bring benefit to our students, staff and the local community.
Robert said that his ambition was for the University to be a high-ranked institution, delivering excellent teaching and research. However, this required us to effectively manage the financial pressures we face from an increasingly competitive student recruitment environment, the uncertainties of Brexit, the funding review and increased pension costs.