'We are evolving as a University' - VC

The Vice-Chancellor has hailed positive changes brought about by colleagues across the University this year, as he looks ahead to more progress in the new year.

In a video message looking back at 2023, Professor Robert Van de Noort said it was ‘clear to see we are evolving as a university’, while praising the hard work of colleagues that is allowing us to continue to deliver against our strategic objectives.

Evolution

The past 12 months have seen the introduction of measures designed to reduce the University’s current operating deficit, through efficiencies and savings as well as efforts to increase our student intake.

Our response to global financial pressures has accelerated work that was already planned, including reducing complexity within Professional Services and making ourselves more attractive to prospective students to take advantage of forecast increased demand.

Changes already seen have included restructuring Professional Services into eight new directorates, with newly-appointed Heads of Directorates leading the transition to this new model.

We have also made great progress with work to improve the teaching and learning experience at Reading. The Portfolio Review Project will see big changes, including a semester-based academic year structure that sees additional examinations in February, from 2024/25.

Highlights

The year 2023 also saw countless examples of our Strategy in action.

Community

To support our staff, we introduced the new Report and Support platform for staff, students and visitors to report negative behaviours, and a popular Active Bystander training course to help everyone understand how they can intervene if they witness this.

Excellence

Our colleagues and the University won several awards, including achieving University of Sanctuary status, celebrating our volunteers, awarding teaching and learning prizes, and recognising our research community.

Sustainability

We this week won the inaugural Time Higher Education award for environmental leadership, and a team of colleagues are currently sharing our climate research with policymakers at COP28. Meanwhile, we reduced our institutional carbon emissions by another 10% this year to reach a 61% reduction compared to 2008, and our famous climate stripes lit up the country like never before.

Engaged University

The successful Community Festival was one of many events in which we engaged with our local community. New partnerships were formed, such as the new Reading Citizens alliance, which will bring together people and organisations to take action on local issues.