Impression of new Pavilion Library space

This week (17 January) the Vice-Chancellor David Maguire wrote to all staff. You can read the email in full below:

Dear colleague,

It was good to be back at work last week and engaged in the many activities in train to move the University forward.

I particularly appreciated meeting with the Students’ Union officer team to discuss areas of common interest. As I’m sure most of you know, involving students in the key decisions affecting the University is a key tenet of our Sussex 2025 strategy. We already do a lot in this space but it was very useful to explore other ways in which we can incorporate the student voice into what we do. We won’t always agree with every suggestion but it is not tokenistic either – we genuinely want to listen and are always open to ideas.

While our focus is understandably on what goes on within the bounds of our University, it is helpful to remember our important place within the wider community. We are a regional economic powerhouse, contributing hundreds of millions to the Sussex economy every year. So, it was a pleasure to represent the University at the Greater Brighton Economic Board last week to discuss how we can continue to contribute to the economic wellbeing of our region in a sustainable way.

Our ambition within the Engage for Change strategy, part of Sussex 2025, is that we interact purposefully with people, organisations and communities at a local, regional, national and international level. With this in mind, please do consider taking 15 minutes out of your day to complete this questionnaire on our public-engagement activities.

In case it escaped your attention, the Government has updated its guidance around controlling the spread of Covid-19. Most significantly, this includes a reduction in the minimum isolation period to five days, subject to two negative test results prior to day six. The University has updated its guidance accordingly and you can read this on the staff website.

Before the break, initial enabling works began on the West Slope site, following Council’s decision that we can move ahead with the development. These works are continuing through January and much of 2022 and we will keep you informed as they progress. 

As we have explained previously, it is part of a wider suite of investments in our University. We have a number of activities planned to help you understand the transformations we are hoping to make through our Education and Research Investment Fund.

As part of this work, Professor Claire Smith is hosting a webinar this week to run through the projects that sit within the Learn to Transform portfolio. Future webinars will focus on other key areas, including research. Please do book onto Claire’s webinar if you are involved in teaching or supporting learning.

I hope you have a great week.

Warm regards,
David Maguire

Interim Vice-Chancellor