The University of Derby has experienced another year of growth and success across all key areas of the organisation. Although we and other higher education institutes across the country continue to face a challenging and changeable political landscape, we have found new ways to recruit and welcome students, particularly from overseas and online, showing that the UK, and particularly the city of Derby, remains an attractive destination for all students.
We are a university for industry, with a curriculum aligned to future skills needs and a commitment to delivering excellence in innovation and research. The momentum behind our ambitious plans continues to build and, in the last 12 months, we have strengthened our existing partnerships with sector-leading businesses and organisations and forged new ones with inspiring brands to make our mark in the region and around the world.
One of the ways we will continue to drive this ambition forward is through the completion of our biggest single investment projects to date. The £75m Cavendish Building, opening in 2025, will become our new home to Derby Business School, opening doors to opportunities for greater collaboration and knowledge exchange with industry, and enhancing the learning experiences for our students.
In April, I was delighted to host, alongside Lord Burlington, our Chancellor and the Rt Hon Lord Patrick McLoughlin CH, University of Derby honorand, an exclusive event at the House of Lords where we set out our ambitions for the University of Derby and our integral partnership with industry.
The Cavendish Building, with first-class facilities, business engagement zones and some of the most prolific researchers in the world means that Derby Business School is poised to compete with world-leading Schools to change the way education institutions engage with industry, across all sectors, in the future. Representatives from global industry giants, including Professor Marvin Cooke, former Executive Vice President for Toyota Motor Europe, along with politicians such as the Rt Hon Dame Margaret Beckett, the Rt Hon Lord Blunkett, and key figures from higher education complimented us on our vision to deliver a future-focused Business School which so easily facilitates academic and industry collaboration.
Later, in June, I had the pleasure of hosting the ‘Topping Out’ ceremony in partnership with Kier Group plc, which marked an important construction milestone of The Cavendish Building. We reflected on the impressive environmental savings we had made to date during construction, which included diverting 99.8% of waste from landfill, achieving more than a 10% net gain on biodiversity and reducing our use of embodied carbon by 620 tonnes. Our unwavering commitment to creating a sustainable, net-zero carbon Business School, the first outside of London, and delivering a positive social impact within the region helps to strengthen our position as a first-choice university and industry partner.
Our civic agenda is developing at a great pace, and I was thrilled to see the launch of the University of Derby Civic Awards which honour the outstanding achievements and contributions of those in our local community. The work of the Civic team, and particularly our staff Civic Champions, is having a tremendous impact within our region. The University of Derby’s National Saturday Club is a fantastic extra-curricular programme designed to help 13- to 16-year-olds learn new skills, develop their talents and meet new people.
In August, the group travelled to a special exhibition at Somerset House where their art creations were displayed for the public. The Civic Curiosity E-Bikes™ project is another example of how the University is committed to inspiring young people across Derbyshire with art and research, offering those from marginalised groups opportunities to engage in activities that will positively influence their personal development.
While our civic initiatives are helping us to make a difference locally, the impact of our groundbreaking research continues to have an effect worldwide. Michael Sweet, Professor of Ecology and Nature-based Solutions, and his ex-situ coral spawning project is gaining momentum and is now a well-regarded technique in many continents. Our research into global healthcare is rapidly advancing too, and Mark Faghy, Professor in Clinical Exercise Science, is leading the way with long Covid recovery plans, recently awarded the prestigious, global Nature Inclusive Health Research Award.
These are, of course, just a couple of examples of the world-leading research that is taking place across the University. I believe that our academic expertise and our ‘Outstanding’ Ofsted result in our Initial Teacher Education programmes is a true testament to our teaching and research excellence.
Graduation continues to be one of the most enjoyable events in our calendar, and this year was no exception. It is a fantastic occasion where we all come together as one university to celebrate the achievements of our students and to reflect on the incredible journey they have been on and are about to embark on. It is also a time to recognise people of distinction who have gone above and beyond to create a positive impact in their specialist field, including Millie Bright OBE, Captain Harpreet Chandi MBE and Professor Sir Kevan Collins who were among the worthy recipients of honorary degrees at our ceremonies.
Against the backdrop of political, social and economic change, we have proven ourselves to be an agile and adaptable university who can turn any challenge into an opportunity. Students remain at the heart of everything we do, and I look forward to working even more closely with industry and our global community of partners and alumni over the coming year to find and create unrivalled opportunities for our community to gain relevant skills and new life experiences, network with employers and pave the way for their future career.
Professor Kathryn Mitchell CBE DL
Vice-Chancellor & Chief Executive
