Warwick Leaders' Forum
Warwick Leaders' Forum (WLF) took place on Wednesday 1 December. A summary of the key points discussed can be found below. The next WLF is scheduled for Wednesday 16 February 2022.
- The presence in the UK of the Omicron Covid variant has brought a new round of restrictions. In common with other universities, we now expect colleagues and students to wear face coverings while inside. We want to get through the next three weeks to Christmas safely while the Government reviews and updates its guidance. It looks like a significant majority of Warwick colleagues are vaccinated or intend to get the vaccine, according to recent survey results.
- For the most part, our students seem to have settled in well in term 1, with, for example, 82% telling us that Welcome Week had met their expectations, which is back to pre-pandemic levels. However, in a time of Covid uncertainty challenges remain around how we teach students, be that face-to-face, online or through a blended approach. These uncertainties will continue into term 2 and the situation remains dynamic and while we hope to increase the amount of face-to-face teaching we do, we will need to be agile. On a related issue, there will be a hybrid working staff survey going out.
- The pensions debate is bubbling up again and the University and College Union (UCU) is re-balloting members over a potential strike - the third ballot in the past 12 months. The material facts have not changed between the most recent ballot, when the UCU was unable to secure a mandate for action, and now. The fact remains that the current national pensions scheme is financially unsustainable, and change will happen. Our best response is to work together to agree the best deal in those circumstances.
- The university scored a palpable hit in November sending a delegation to COP26 as official observers, one of only a small number of universities to be invited in. Our delegates have given us feedback, identifying areas of improvement or development for Warwick on its own Way to Sustainable.
- The way Warwick approaches communications is evolving. Our new communications strategy has been approved by University Council. The focus will be on telling our story of research, education, innovation, inclusion and our community and partnerships to the priority audiences we need to reach.
- A key component of the wider regional communications work will focus on the South Campus initiative which includes the Eco Park, the Coventry City FC (CCFC) stadium, the A46 link road, Very Light Rail and other sustainable transport developments such as new cycle routes. We are working with external consultants to carry out strategic transport modelling, identifying the best routes for the transport infrastructure and mapping against existing public transport provision. This will be done in conjunction with refreshing the University Masterplan, taking into account the predicted long-term scale of growth for the university and wider local area. The University is working closely with the local councils to ensure that our ambitions are reflected in the new Local Plan, due to be published in 2022.
- Since the Eco Park was announced in June, we have received good feedback from the local community and key external stakeholders. Surveys and feasibility studies are soon to be procured to better understand the land, constraints and opportunities for the Eco Park. Work is in progress to identify suitable partners to help us develop the vision for the Eco Park, in particular the Discovery and Ecology zones.
- Through discussions with CCFC we have agreed a series of principles for our shared vision for the stadium. A site for the stadium – provided by the University - has been identified and the stadium development will be led by CCFC.
- The Wellesbourne programme continues apace with interests from potential tenants remaining high. Lotus is on site with their engineering research facilities as well as having office space, while we are talking to other occupiers about expanding the footprint with us. Future plans are being worked through and we have undertaken a number of studies and surveys carried out which will result in the production of a draft masterplan that we will use as the basis for consultation both inside and outside of the University which we are hoping will be ready in early 2022.
- Continuing the regional theme, we are making great progress with University College Birmingham (UCB). The first intake of UCB students studying towards a Warwick degree will enrol in February 2022. We have approved UCB’s existing programmes to continue delivery and will soon consider brand new programmes.
- Finally, the University will play a part as a host venue for Commonwealth Games training and the International Children’s Games in 2022 which are taking place in Birmingham next summer. The Warwick campus has been announced as an official training venue, hosting international teams as they prepare to compete in Judo, Wrestling and Rugby Sevens. The campus is also one of three Athletes Villages, providing accommodation and facilities to close to 2,000 competitors during the 12 days of the Games. Warwick will also be a venue for the International Children’s Games, taking place three days after the Commonwealth Games finishes.
