Looking through the window to the green of a garden that is yet to see a substantial frost this year, one might be forgiven for thinking we are still in the throes of an October or November autumn. And were it not for the fact that we have significant other milestones and measures, like our academic calendar or the incipient holiday period, it might be rather difficult to keep track of time. Certainly, with another year passing since the worst of the pandemic, the days become weeks and the weeks  become months with increasing rapidity. My blog this time last year seemed to spark a number of “discussions” and thank you to all those who corrected my assertion that Elf is the best festive film.  I remain unmoved, as I do to whether or not Die Hard is a “Christmas” movie at all! To be honest, I have found it a  little more difficult to get in the “mood” for the holiday season this year and I am not sure whether it is due to  the dwindling (or melting) likelihood of a white Christmas or the fact that I saw a crème egg on sale yesterday  - presumably last years’ stock – but things do change.  In my family, the maturation of  children through the education system and into the workplace marks the passing of time; it also brings with it a changed dynamic of ”who, where and when” as a generation finds its own feet and starts its own traditions.

So, in this year’s blog, rather than recounting tales of Christmas Past  as has been my wont, I invite you to reflect on the happier events of 2023 – whether home or work – easing  us all through the break and into 2024. For me, amongst the many memories, Graduation Day 2023 was very special. Spending time with a lot of happy people simply has to be the best job in the world. Thank you all for bringing the RVC to the end of another successful year and, whatever your beliefs or culture, and whether you are following traditions or establishing new ones, I wish you the very best of the season and only good things in the New Year.  

As ever,  

Stuart

Quite a week… 

A new academic year and a very, very busy week: Welcome to everyone who has joined the RVC for the first time and welcome back to our returners; it has been really great to see both campuses so vibrant and busy.

Please do watch out for messages – in the blog, on Message of the Day and sometimes by email – as I will be sharing news and views through these channels in the coming weeks and months. It’s an exciting but somewhat hectic time of the academic year and we want to ensure nobody misses out on important information.

So, let’s get started…..

…and I make no apology for starting with a theme that has occupied these blogs for the last 4 years…

COVID

I know for some this may seem like an old message but, watching the impact of the new variant on colleagues in the United States, infection can still lead to significant absences for university communities. We are several weeks behind in our academic year and it would be folly to assume that what has happened there will not happen here. So….

1. LF Tests are freely available to all staff and students at receptions on both sites.
2. With no legal requirement and no real guidance, common sense must prevail; please, please, if you become infected do as you would hope others would do for you. Stay away from others, if you can, and wear a mask when necessary and appropriate.
3. Take precautions to prevent other respiratory diseases… all staff and students are offered free ‘flu vaccinations. Appointments are listed on the intranet.

The TEF – good news

As some of you will be aware, UK universities take part in the Teaching Excellence Framework and this time the exercise has been a little different and more granular than previously. With three measures - student satisfaction, student outcome and an overall mark - I am very pleased to report that RVC achieved Gold for outcomes, Silver for satisfaction and Silver overall. It was a huge effort for many people, both staff and students, especially as we are a relatively small, specialist university, and I am grateful for the many contributions that led to such favourable results. I also look forward to working with our community to lift us to gold in all our endeavours. There is more on the TEF here and my previous comment is here.

Our campuses

You cannot help but notice the evidence of construction work on both our campuses. For those of you who have been away over the summer, at Hawkshead we are busy completing the new main campus entrance/reception, shop and café area.  Importantly, whilst works are underway, there will be reduced toilet provision in the new Student Learning Centre, but alternative provisions will be available in the vicinity…so please see other notices to familiarise yourself with their locations and plan ahead!  Eclipse is also now out of bounds while we carry out the internal refurbishment – staff and student access is limited to the entrance lobby by the Link building and the ground floor toilets in the north stairwell.  I hope you enjoy using the new teaching and study spaces.  Work is also ongoing to the new courtyard and parking area at the rear of Eclipse, these should be completed mid-way through the term.  Meanwhile, in Camden remedial work will be starting this autumn on the roof, façade and windows.  Finally, on estates matters, following recent news in the press regarding RAAC (reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete) in schools and universities, we have undertaken our own review and are pleased to say we do not have any issues on our campuses.

The KEF

Also announced this week, and a bit like the TEF mentioned above, we are assessed for our contributions to Knowledge Exchange, and the KEF is the framework under which this happens. Looking at the huge range of activities in which universities take part and their contribution to economic growth, innovation, entrepreneurship and community infrastructure and employment is a very important part of our mission. The RVC is proud of its place in broader society and the outcome of the exercise reflects this commitment and success. There is no formal ranking mechanism but you can read more about our performance here and here.

And with that, I wish you a great weekend and a happy and fulfilling academic year ahead.

All best wishes, as ever,

Stuart

With another long weekend ahead of us and, whatever your view, an event of historical significance likely to flood social and mainstream media (and, no, I am not referring to the RVC Students’ Union May Ball!), I know many are starting to focus on exams and, for some, what comes next as careers beckon.  I also realise  this is a stressful time for some and remind you all that if you would like some advice or support there are various ways you can get in touch with us.  Details can be found at the bottom of this message.

There have been many exciting things happening around us over the last several months and we can be remiss in not taking the time to clock significant events in our own lives, as the world continues to spin on its axis and international affairs occupy the news channels. The logistically successful visitation to our joint degree offering with Aberystwyth University, the move into the new building at Hawkshead, our retention of QS#1, and the continuing face lift for Camden….. there is a lot happening at the RVC and, looking at diaries, it is clear there will be no let up in the rate at which we address the challenges and opportunities we face.

As we make changes to our campus, it’s amazing what one discovers. One such recent revelation came about as we emptied the café area of the Eclipse building in preparation for the next phase of our renovations. Those familiar with the area may have noticed a (huge) coat of arms next to Registry. Passed by many each day, some may, however, not have noticed that the 3-D relief is not of the RVC armorial bearings but that of the Sovereign. With a little bit of detective work, it became apparent that this coat of arms once had pride of place on the pediment of the main gate at Camden, not Hawkshead, truly putting the “Royal” in RVC.

We are debating where we might best mount the bearings given that our own RVC version has somewhat displaced the historical artefact. For sure we will be keeping it and it may be that a return to Camden would be most proper. We will see. All suggestions welcome!

But how appropriate that we should be refreshing our royal connection in the very week, the Crown itself will be refreshed. Coincidence?  As Wayne Dyer said, ”In mathematics, two angles that are said to coincide fit together perfectly. The word "coincidence" does not describe luck or mistakes. It describes that which fits together perfectly”  …. keeping the Royal in RVC.

Whether you are marking the event or avoiding it, plus or minus the May Ball, have a great weekend.

As ever,

Stuart

If you would like support, you can book an appointment with a Wellbeing Adviser or email advice@rvc.ac.uk. The Advice Centre is open from 9am-5pm every working day (not including bank holidays) and our support is available confidentially to all students.

You can also receive out of hours support from:

• RVC Health Assured (0800 028 3766) –  24 hour confidential helpline to support you through any of life’s issues or problem
• Samaritans (116 123) – open 24/7
• Vetlife – helpline available 24/7

Somewhat at odds with the recent weather, March heralds the arrival of Spring and the beginning of the annual cycle of new growth in our natural world in the Northern Hemisphere.

Having just celebrated LGBTQ+ History Month  and, in the last week, International Women’s Day and University Mental Health Day, anniversaries are important reminders of the diversity of the lives we lead, the many different sectors and  interests we embrace, and the challenges we face.

As the snowdrops give way to the daffodils  and then the other flowers of spring, renewed  awareness is key to allowing the RVC  to grow, support and celebrate everyone in our community.

With exciting news due next week,  watch this space.

Have a great weekend.

As ever,

Stuart

Season’s greetings (and other bullet-points)

I think I have probably shared with you the vast majority of the 57 festive seasons I have been privileged to experience – or at least the ones I was old enough to remember. Some poignant, some humorous, some just strange… and certainly there are now more behind me than ahead of me.  Our hankering for the warm blanket of ritual, the security of repetition and the stability of memories anchored in nostalgia make our celebrations, whatever festival we are enjoying and whatever our observances, somewhat similar. I’ve been reflecting on the way in which we have been bombarded with “exceptional” events and circumstances right through the last 12 months – any one of which in a normal year would have been significant on their own. Still, it is what it is, and here we are, and a new year beckons. Approaching the break, I know many of our community will be working through the holiday period – and for that I am immensely grateful - whether it is our clinical teams, those in estates, those providing security or covering duty rotas that keep our systems protected and our people safe. To you all, thank you. Through the pandemic – although thankfully less common, recently – this blog has often defaulted to bullet points to summarise important pieces of information, with one or two fun facts, most of which are now, mercifully, redundant.However, looking back specifically over the annual festive contributions, here are a few of my key learning points distilled from the previous blogs:

1. Many cultures and faiths celebrate at this time of year. We should all remember this.
2. Dogs don’t mix well with chocolate/mince-pies/glitter/tinsel (Delete as appropriate).
3. The Queen Mother Hospital for Animals is a great place if your dog has eaten chocolate/mince-pies/glitter/tinsel (Delete as appropriate).
4. Santa really does exist if you believe and if he is played by a real Finnish grandfather, with a real beard and real reindeer, attended by elves. The elves need not be real. 
5. A crying baby on the stroke of midnight on 24th is emotional gold dust.
6. Don’t try smoking your own salmon unless you want the fire service also attending your celebratory lunch.
7. A turkey is best cooked hot and fast.
8. Remove giblets from the turkey before cooking…
9. Especially if they are in a plastic bag. 
10. Cooking your brussel sprouts in a wok with Cajun spices makes them edible….
11. For a non-vegetarian option, consider adding lardons to the wok.
12. Actually, consider adding anything that will disguise the taste of the sprouts.
13. Bread pudding. Why?
14. Elf is the best seasonal movie. This is non-negotiable.
15. Die Hard is not a Christmas movie. It simply isn’t. 
16. Not everyone is a lucky as we might be.
17. People’s kindness can take your breath away.
18. The RVC has some of the best staff and students in the world… 
19. And it’s a privilege to work with you all.
20. You know what? Just skip the sprouts altogether.

So, whether you agree or disagree, wherever you are, and whatever your traditions and observances, I wish you the very best of this festive season and a healthy, happy and successful 2023.

With all best wishes, as ever, Stuart