From so many vantage points around campus, the view we have is fantastic. From my office on level 5 of 4West in the maths department, I can look out onto the green space around the lake. Over the summer months, lots of us have managed to take some time to sit out there and catch up with colleagues. It's also a space that visitors to campus find and take time to enjoy, whether during conferences or as part of our summer schools. It’s a fantastic focal point for our community.
Drop-in sessions
So too is the library. And that is where I have spent three mornings over the past month, meeting, listening to and sharing thoughts with colleagues and students from across campus.
I have enjoyed hearing the different perspectives of our colleagues, and learning what people feel is important about our community. It was particularly interesting to hear from one colleague about the importance of understanding and appreciating difference; put another way, for us as a community to go beyond cultural competence and to develop our collective cultural intelligence. This seems to be a key component of effective inclusive practice (I also talked about this on a recent visit to the EDI team at the Royal United Hospital) and is something I will be thinking more about over the coming months.
Students also joined me. Those who have been working on campus over the summer were very clear about the benefit our new internship programme, Bath Insights, has afforded them. The programme was developed as an opportunity for undergraduates who have found it difficult to obtain work experience elsewhere. Having heard about the programme from those who planned it, I was delighted to hear that their enthusiasm was matched equally by the student interns themselves.
Awards and recognition
Summer is also a season for staff recognition and awards. For me that started with a fantastic evening at Komedia, celebrating students and staff with the Doctoral College. During the event, 24 staff and 36 students were recognised for their contribution to enhancing the doctoral student experience. That is a real testament to our research community here in Bath and their willingness to support each other. In July, I spent a wonderful afternoon at the Edge, celebrating the work of long-serving members of our community and recipients of the Staff Recognition Award. Everyone who was there has shown a real commitment to our community and to making it welcoming, inclusive and supportive. But I will mention four staff in particular, staff who have worked at the University for 35 years each. To Christopher Vennard, Nigel Johnston, Julie Huggins and Vijay Rajput thank you so much for the long-standing commitment you have shown to our University community.
Race equality
Next week, Dr Teslim Bukoye, a senior lecturer in the School of Management, will take up his role as our first Race Equality lead at the University. This will help us in our aspiration to build a more diverse community and, subsequently, to ensure that inclusive practices help all members of our community to thrive. You will hear more from Teslim in the coming weeks and I am sure there will be plenty of opportunity for anyone who is interested to get involved in this important work.
Listening and talking more
As I look back over the summer months, I am particularly glad that I have had many opportunities to meet people from across campus. It gives a perspective that is much broader than I could acquire on my own. And it is really interesting! So, starting next month, please look out for a new homepage feature Conversations on campus where you’ll have the chance to find out what different members of our community get up to in their working days, what challenges them, what motivates them and how they contribute to our community. I am hoping that many of our Staff Recognition Award holders will agree to take part so you can hear from, and be inspired by, them just as I was. I’m also going to start holding 1-1 bookable sessions for anyone to come along and have a chat with me. And as we chat and share views on our community, we will be able to enjoy the view from my office, one of very many great campus views.
