Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive signs off an "immensely successful year".
Professor Liz Barnes CBE
Having signed up to the Civic University Agreement earlier this year, this will be a strong theme that will run throughout 2020. Essentially, this is a commitment to put the economy and quality of life in our City and region at the top our list of priorities.
We’re nearing the end of another year and it’s an opportunity for many of our staff and students to take a well-earned rest and to enjoy the festivities with family and friends.
This has been an immensely successful year in our University’s history and the star on the University’s Christmas trees has turned from silver to gold – in recognition of our new rating in the government’s Teaching Excellence and Student Outcomes Framework (TEF) – the highest possible rating!
We have risen in all the UK’s League Tables and the icing on our Christmas cake came in the form of our shortlisting for ‘University of the Year’ in the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide which recognised our sustained improvement and our commitment to social inclusion which is so important to us.
For the second year running, we made it into the Times Higher Education World University Rankings, which recognise the world's leading research universities, and I take this opportunity to send warm wishes to our global community – to our students on Staffordshire University degrees overseas and to our education partners.
There is an enormous amount of positive work happening in all areas of our University and 2020 will be no exception. In Spring, we will be pressing ahead with construction of our new Catalyst building which will act as both a physical and virtual hub, connecting employers, students and apprentices from across the Midlands and beyond.
Having signed up to the Civic University Agreement earlier this year, this will be a strong theme that will run throughout 2020. Essentially, this is a commitment to put the economy and quality of life in our City and region at the top our list of priorities.
Meanwhile, our School of Health and Social Care will be celebrating 2020 Year of the Nurse and Midwife with a campaign that recognises the complexities of patient care and safety and our University’s role in developing the Florence Nightingales for the future.
For now, I wish you all the very best for the festive season and hope that you find some time for reflection and resolution.
In 2020, I look forward to working with you on making the positive impact we want to see for ourselves, our students and our Connected University community.