A Time To Reflect
6 August 2012
Chris Hughes, Chair of Governing Council
The recent run of league table results, all showing our rapid climb, has been just brilliant, especially as that climb has been due to significantly enhanced student satisfaction and achievement.
”Chair of Governing Council, Chris Hughes, reflects on his highlights from the past year and looks forward to 2012/13...
I have been on the Governing Council for over eight years and had served as Vice-Chair and Chair of the Finance Committee, but even that hadn't really prepared me for the role of Chair. Stepping into Dianne Jeffrey's shoes and building on what she had achieved over her tenure has been a daunting task.
I decided that my primary focus and objective was to continue her work of ensuring sustainability whilst remaining true to our values, always putting students at the heart of what we do. I particularly wanted to get more external recognition and confirmation for what we know is the high quality experience that is the University of Derby.
The recent run of league table results, all showing our rapid climb, has been just brilliant, especially as that climb has been due to significantly enhanced student satisfaction and achievement. I share with all staff and students the immense pride that at last this is happening, giving a true reflection of a University we already knew was really on the up.
Achieving this in a year of considerable turmoil as the funding rules changed is particularly pleasing. We have a University well-managed, living within its means and continuing to invest heavily in new facilities, infrastructure, teaching and a range exciting initiatives, all designed to equip us for the more competitive and demanding future.
As we look forward, the key is attracting students from across the range of our offerings: undergraduate, postgraduate, international, online and our enhanced further education offering with the forthcoming merger with Leek College. Couple this with our substantial business and training activity driven out of UDC, and we'll continue to have a University not only offering a high class, relevant and employment focussed education, but a University contributing immensely and significantly to the health and wealth of Derby, Buxton and all the communities we serve.
The highlights are many but the most important are the staff and student achievements and I'd pick out some of the extraordinary scores in the student satisfaction surveys, the sense of engagement in the Students' Union and the inexorable rise of Team Derby.
The absolute highlight is a reflection of a personal passion. Whilst I was at university I sang and acted in a theatre I played a part in establishing, and my love of theatre has always remained with me. Sitting in our own Derby Theatre and watching the recent extraordinary performance of Blonde I could have been in the West End; after five minutes I had completely forgotten these were second year students. It sums up wonderfully what our University is all about - excellent facilities, great staff and students who have the freedom to express and grow their talents.
