Dear Colleagues, 

As we mark the end of the academic year, I want to take a moment to thank you for your dedication and to share some recent highlights.

Swift on the heels of the launch of our new strategy, Science for Humanity, Imperial was placed second in the QS World University Rankings. This makes us the top-ranked university in the UK and Europe. I have said this already, but it bears repeating: this would not have been possible without your talent, commitment and excellence. Thank you again.

Congratulations also to all our colleagues who have received well-deserved accolades this term, from The King’s Birthday Honours to fellowships of Royal Society and the Academy of Medical Sciences, our Julia Higgins Awards, our recent winners of Royal Society of Chemistry prizes, and more besides. 

Internationally, our partnership with the University of Ghana has been further strengthened. This will see our two universities deepen cooperation across a range of areas including digital diagnostics, innovation and entrepreneurship, public health, environmental sustainability, and vaccine manufacturing. This truly is Imperial Global in action.   

This term also saw the return of the Great Exhibition Road Festival. Thank you and well done to those who contributed to another successful event, which this year attracted around 50,000 visitors.

I am sorry not to be able to join you at our Staff Party this week to celebrate these successes. As I said in last week’s In Conversation, I am working remotely for a few weeks because of an ankle injury. Unfortunately, this means I am also unable to attend the Staff Recognition Awards. Thanks to our Provost Ian Walmsley for hosting the event.

Last week’s In Conversation with the President focused on the results of our Staff Survey and our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion strategy. My thanks to Harbhajan Brar (Director of HR) and Professor Lesley Cohen and Dr Wayne Mitchell (Associate Provosts for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion) for their presentations, and to our staff consul Professor David Evans for moderating your questions. You can watch again online.

Thank you to everyone who took part in the survey. Please do take time to read and digest this data. Overall, you said you have a strong sense of satisfaction and pride in your work; and that you have confidence in Imperial’s vision and ambition. That is encouraging. There are also clear areas where more must be done, including on wellbeing and workload, reward and recognition, and managing change. Your answers will help us shape Imperial for the years ahead. 

Wayne and Lesley then shared updates on Imperial’s new equality, diversity and inclusion strategy. I am grateful to them and the many other colleagues who have helped shape this crucial work. This strategy will address the core issues head on, including gaps in our data, processes and procedures. It will initiate action to change Imperial for the better. It will also highlight positive progress. We will keep you updated as this develops.

Ian will host our next in Conversation on Thursday 18 July. Harbhajan will host the next Professional Services Discussion in White City on Tuesday 9 July, to which you are all invited.  

Thank you again for making this such a successful year. I look forward to building on it in the next academic year. In the meantime, please do enjoy the Staff Party and take some time out this summer.

Best wishes,  

Hugh 

Professor Hugh Brady

President