Introduction — Chair of Bangor University Council

I am immensely proud of what has been achieved at Bangor University against the backdrop of the Covid–19 pandemic and, on behalf of Council, I would like to thank all our staff for the professionalism, fortitude and positivity they have shown, and to thank our students for their resilience and commitment as we emerge to operate in a ‘new normal’ world.

A three–week graduation festival in July 2022 marked the success of three years of student graduates, a celebration for our new alumni and, indeed, for the whole University community that supported their achievements. And as we begin a new academic year, it is uplifting to see that vitality return to our campuses.

Despite the turbulence of Covid–19, the University has embraced the challenges, working with common purpose to support the direction set out in our Strategy 2030. Our plans to establish an independent medical school for North Wales with the support of Welsh Government, are progressing well as the University prepares to finalise its case for GMC accreditation. As encapsulated in the Government’s long–term plan for health and social care – A Healthier Wales – we need to deliver a step–change in the health of our population through a life–course approach with a focus on prevention. There has been an ambition to create an interdisciplinary medical school at Bangor University since the end of the Second World War. Today, the North Wales Medical School, in partnership with Betsi Cadwaladr Health Board, will fulfil a more important role than ever before, addressing medical recruitment challenges across the region by training the workforce of the future.

We are proud to be a bilingual university in a bilingual region and nation and our University continues to make its mark on the intellectual and cultural life of Wales, the UK and the world. Bangor’s standing in the Research Excellence Framework (2021) underlines an outstanding performance with 85% of our research judged to be world–leading or internationally excellent. It is a great achievement to be recognised within the top 30 in the UK for the societal impact, with Earth Systems and Environmental Sciences placed first in the UK for the impact of its research. Our ranking of second overall in Wales and in the top 50 in the UK is excellent news. It is clear that Bangor University is delivering world changing social, cultural, and environmental benefits, from advances in healthcare to combatting global environmental change and finding the energy solutions of the future.

The University has made good progress in the latest National Student Survey results, placed in the top 20 in the UK at 19th position, up 54 places compared with last year, achieving an 81% overall satisfaction rate, up 6%. We have more work to do to ensure we achieve the high standards we set ourselves to ensure the students continue to receive the student experience they rightly expect when they join our community.

Following the outbreak of war in Ukraine, the University joined Welsh Government’s super–sponsor scheme and repurposed one of our halls of residence as short–term accommodation. Working in partnership with Gwynedd Council, Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board and social housing provider, Clwyd Alyn, we have welcomed more than 80 Ukrainians on campus. In keeping with the proud history we have in Wales as a Nation of Sanctuary it has been our privilege to host the refugees at a time of great need.

While our financial statements report a strong set of results, they do not reflect the challenges of high inflation, increased energy and borrowing costs which will bring additional pressures to the University in future years. We are currently undertaking a review of Council and the effectiveness of its governance structures to ensure that we are effectively able to support the institution’s sustainability and long–term future.

Over the past year, Council has sought to ensure that the vision and goals of the University’s strategic plan, remain relevant. The University has greatly benefitted from the steadfast and visionary leadership of Professor Iwan Davies who retired as Vice–Chancellor in September 2022.

I have led on the appointment of his successor, a process which was managed by independent executive search company, Perret Laver. It gives me great pleasure to welcome our new Vice–Chancellor and I look forward to working with Professor Edmund Burke to underpin the direction he sets for the institution over the next period. I am confident that we have the strategy, leadership and governance to realise our ambitious goals together, as a University with a Welsh heart and a regional, national and global outlook.

Marian Wyn Jones Chair of Council