April 8, 2020, by Rob Ounsworth

Let’s reflect, relax and recharge this Easter

An update from Professor Dame Jessica Corner

As we look forward to an extended Easter break, I would like to thank you once again for your amazing commitment in these difficult times. I am proud to be part of a research community so dedicated to making a difference.

On social media, please look out for #WeAreTogether, which is recognising the role universities are playing in the national effort against COVID-19, as well as our own #WeAreUoN posts.

Your wellbeing remains the University’s absolute priority. I do hope this extended break provides an opportunity to rest, recharge and enjoy any sunshine.

Working hard for our community

Many of you are aware that our University and higher education in the UK continue to face challenging times and the pandemic has resulted in significant pressures across our sector.

We wish to reassure you that the University is very much aware of the pressures being felt in your professional lives as researchers. We are thinking through the options available to us at this time and working hard on behalf of our research community to work through the detail.

We are aware that some research staff are worried about what happens at the end of contracts, as well as having concerns over recruitment and progression, and we are urgently discussing these issues within the University and with other stakeholders, including funding bodies.

It is also important to acknowledge that there is ‘no one size fits all’ answer to the support and guidance you may need, in terms of funding, types of contract and the stage of your career.

Your School and research group, together with the Graduate School and University’s research leadership, is investigating these issues as a matter of urgency.

We will draw up plans of action and communicate these with you soon, to ensure that your questions are answered. Please raise any concerns with your line manager.

Please also refer to these Research and Innovation’s resources and information for researchers. This is updated frequently – for example FAQs now include more on digital support for research.

Celebrating our researchers

We also celebrate researchers continuing to make an impact in other fields, from leading social scientists being recognised by their peers at the Academy of Social Sciences to colleagues at the University of Nottingham Malaysia again winning a five-star rating for research excellence.

My very best wishes for Easter

For now, please enjoy Easter as best you can – I look forward to seeing sunflowers spring up across our community as part of our #RayofSunflower challenge!

Thank you once again for your dedication and thoughtfulness. I wish you and your family and friends the best of health, and, wherever possible, the fulfilment of time spent with loved ones.

Professor Dame Jessica Corner
Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research and Knowledge Exchange

 

• Share on Facebook
• Share on Twitter
• Share on Google+
• Share on LinkedIn