CONTENTS Introduction from the Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive

AN INTRODUCTION FROM THE VICE-CHANCELLOR

This annual report tells the story of a year of change and reset as we emerged from the global pandemic and delivered a successful academic year for our students. Our collective ambition to put our students at the heart of everything we do reinforced our focus and thanks to the agility of our staff, teaching, learning and research continued without pause and with much vigour and enthusiasm. Based upon the academic outcomes of our students and our research community, we completed our 2021/22 session in a great place. We achieved an excellent profile in the National Student Survey, we were finally able to celebrate with our graduating classes after two years of disruption and delay, and the outcome from REF 21 placed us in a strategically important position both nationally and internationally. As we bring our last strategic plan to its natural conclusion, we have started to assemble around the principles of our next chapter with a plan that will launch in January 2023, the year of our bicentenary. In resetting and restating the university ahead of the new strategic plan we refreshed our values, reflecting how we have changed as a community over the last two years and focusing on what we believe to be the important and authentic characteristics of our university. We welcomed Nisha Katona as our first alumni Chancellor, a proud moment for us as a graduate takes our highest office and although we wear our history lightly as a contemporary university, this was a deeply meaningful appointment for our university. Our original students in 1823 were the people who made the industrial revolution work; today our students are the catalyst in professional public services, pioneers and entrepreneurs energising and driving change in the infrastructure of our region. My thanks to the Board of Governors for their support and considered oversight and to the Executive Leadership Team who steer the university forwards with confidence and compassion.

Professor Mark Power

Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive