"A huge thank you to everyone who was involved in the Network Day at the end of last year. From attendees to organisers, your contributions helped to ensure a highly successful and enjoyable event which generated a number of ideas and discussions. There is a short film now available online capturing some of the highlights of the day.

Those of you who filled in a 'what one action will you work on' postcard at the Network will have this sent back to you as promised over the next few days. Hopefully, this will be a timely reminder of what you identified at the event that you would do differently in your own role or your own department as a result of what you heard or learned during the day.

The session leaders have also taken away your comments and opinions and pledged to follow up on these in their departments and areas of responsibility.

As well as your comments and opinions, I took two key messages from the Network day. Firstly, that we need to simplify to deliver. We all know the systems and processes we use that add value and make a real difference to students and academics and the smooth-running of the University. We also know what we do through habit rather than design, what processes duplicate or consume our time and capacity without adding much value. I’m keen to capture your ideas and – importantly - solutions to try to simplify what we do in order to more effectively deliver all the services we provide. There will be more to come on this later in the year.

Secondly, this is all our responsibility. To take this responsibility requires understanding about what the University is seeking to do and why. We have a number of existing routes – formal and informal – to share information and engage on key aspects of the University’s activities and plans – events like the Network Day, Registrar’s Meetings, VC surgeries, departmental meetings, Campus Catch-ups and Strategy Bites sessions. We all need to ensure we are using these opportunities as effectively as possible and, where there are gaps in information for some staff, that we seek to address this.

Thank you again.

Ken Sloan
Registrar and Chief Operating Officer