The University of Manchester is set to introduce a series of new initiatives aimed at enhancing listening across the University community. These measures, launching in September 2024, come in response to recent student advocacy efforts and are designed to ensure that student voices are more effectively heard and addressed.
Beginning in the new academic year, four key initiatives will be implemented to foster stronger engagement across campus and between students, the Students’ Union and University decision-makers.
Ask the Senior Leadership Team (SLT)
The University’s senior leadership will engage directly with students on topics where there has historically been a perception of a lack of transparency, in a series of open meetings throughout the academic year.
These sessions, organised in collaboration with the Students’ Union Executive Officers, will allow students to pose questions directly to University officials. All students will have the opportunity to attend these meetings or submit questions in advance, with recordings of the sessions available afterward on Student News.
The first open meeting is with University President and Vice-Chancellor Duncan Ivison and the topic is ‘Ask Me Anything’. It will take place on Friday 27 September at 11am and you can sign up and submit a question here.
This semester’s open meetings will include:
- President and Vice-Chancellor Duncan Ivison: ask me anything
- Student Activism at Manchester: driving change and making an impact
- The Ethics of University Research and Investment: an in-depth exploration
- Unpacking University Finances: a guide to where your money goes
- How the University Chooses International Partners: decision making on collaborations
Strengthening the SU-University relationship
Any belief passed by the Students’ Union Assembly will now be shared with the relevant University decision-making body or committee for a formal response. This protocol guarantees that student concerns receive direct attention, with formal responses delivered back to the Students’ Union. Elected SU representatives will then share these responses with the Union Assembly.
Oxford Road Chats
To connect with students in a more informal setting, University President and Vice-Chancellor Duncan Ivison will host a series of conversations with the Students’ Union Executive Officers along Manchester’s iconic Oxford Road. These conversations will provide a platform for open dialogue between University leadership and students, addressing key issues, including complex and potentially divisive topics.
The initiative underscores Duncan’s commitment to transparency, regular communication, and offering students deeper insights into the relationship between the University and the Students’ Union.
The Whitworth Debates
University is a place where challenging ideas are encountered. Addressing controversial topics head-on, The Whitworth Debates is a University ran initiative which will see a range of seemingly intractable issues debated by people with well-informed but differing and strongly held viewpoints – offering a model for constructive debate in wider society.
The debates will be based on the format of the very successful animal research debate held in November 2023 at The Whitworth Hall in which three panellists debated questions from audience members.
Continuing to listen
These initiatives mark a significant step forward in the University of Manchester’s commitment to improving dialogue and transparency with the student body, providing new avenues for students to engage with and influence the decision-making process. We hope to build on them over the coming months and years.