Front cover image: Extending our Canterbury Campus, part of our £150 million Estate Master Plan R CONTENTS Pro-Chancellor’s foreword ..................... 01 Honorary Doctors .................................. 33 Vice-Chancellor’s introduction............... 02 New Professors, Readers and Principal Lecturers .................................. 34 Key achievements for 2016/17 ............... 04 Governors and Officers ......................... 34 Bold future ............................................. 06 Accounts ................................................ 36 Research, enterprise, engagement .........11 Statistics ................................................. 38 Our student experience ......................... 20 Our people ............................................ 26 PRO-CHANCELLOR’S FOREWORD his year, I have had the pleasure of taking up the This Annual Report helps to illustrate the role of Pro-Chancellor and Chair of Canterbury University’s impact and reach. It shows how Christ Church University’s Governing Body. the day-to-day diversity of its work – from large-scale projects to smaller initiatives This follows seven years as a Governor, during – make a difference to people and lives. Twhich time I have witnessed the significant and sustained contribution which the University, its I would like to take this opportunity to thank students and staff make to local communities staff for their hard work and dedication, and and the wider region. Collectively, they bring our students for their commitment to study and vitality, diversity and prosperity to the area, University education. widening education opportunities for all generations and innovating for the benefit My thanks also go to my predecessor, Stephen of society. Clark, who so ably chaired the Governing Body over four years, and to Governors for their It has been a remarkable year for Christ Church. ongoing support and important contribution The city council’s approval of plans to extend to our thriving University community. the University’s main campus in Canterbury, starting with a new Arts Building opening in Frank Martin September 2018, signals an exciting phase of Pro-Chancellor and Chair of the development and enables new courses and Governing Body partnerships to emerge. The Governing Body was also delighted that the University’s teaching credentials were recognised in the Teaching Excellence Framework, particularly in facilitating wide access to higher education. The Silver award demonstrates its commitment to high-quality teaching and learning opportunities, borne out by the many student and graduate success stories and experiences we encounter as Governors. Annual Report 2016/17 01 VICE-CHANCELLOR’S INTRODUCTION elcome to our 2016/17 Annual Report, which transformative education. Christ Church has a provides an opportunity for us to share the long and proud history of providing education University’s many highlights and successes that makes a real difference to people’s lives during the academic year. and this award is recognition of our strong commitment to ensuring students of all abilities, WOnce again, it has been a challenging and from all backgrounds, succeed and reach their eventful year. Significant reform of the higher full potential. education sector has taken place against a backdrop of ongoing political and economic There have also been some very important uncertainty due to a snap General Election, developments in our ambitious Estate Master which left us with a minority government, and Plan. Last year, we were delighted to receive the complex and testing Brexit negotiations. planning permission from the city council to develop the former Canterbury Prison site, a Higher education has been at the forefront of £150 million campus development over the next the General Election with tuition fees being 10 to 15 years. placed firmly back on the political agenda and this policy area continues to be widely debated. In April, we received news that the University Meanwhile, the Higher Education and had been granted planning permission by Research Act 2017 was the most significant Canterbury City Council to build a new arts piece of legislation for a generation and facility on the North Holmes campus. The provided the institutional and policy framework building, due to open in September 2018, will for a major overhaul of the entire sector. The enable the Schools of Media, Art and Design, creation of the Office for Students to replace the and Music and Performing Arts to further Higher Education Funding Council for England support the region’s creative arts and digital and the Office for Fair Access, changes to industries, with specialist teaching facilities student finances and the amalgamation of the and the latest technology for new and research councils into UK Research Innovation existing courses. will all profoundly affect both universities and students. This followed news earlier in the year that the University had been successful in two I firmly believe that Christ Church is well placed Government bids, totalling £13.12 million, to adapt and respond to these changes. In the for a new engineering, science and technology summer, we were delighted to receive news that centre at Christ Church. This funding is a the University had been awarded Silver in the significant step forward in realising our exciting Teaching Excellence Framework, a significant plans to transform our campus in Canterbury. national endorsement of our high-quality and This includes the creation of a new Kent and 02 Canterbury Christ Church University INTRODUCTION Medway Engineering, Design, Growth and will be to improve the student learning Enterprise (EDGE) Hub, which will support experience. We also continue to maintain our high-value employment, growth and close working relationship with Christ Church investment in engineering and technology Students’ Union to ensure our students enjoy businesses in the area. the best possible university experience while studying with us. This major investment in infrastructure reflects our commitment to expanding, strengthening Evidence of our ongoing commitment to and diversifying our curriculum, especially in providing an excellent student and staff areas such as the creative arts, engineering, experience was also reflected in some key science and technology. Further work is being surveys this year. Overall student satisfaction carried out to integrate research into our now sits at 82% according to the National teaching, develop an international dimension Student Survey 2017. In our latest Staff Survey, to the curriculum and embed employability 86% of our staff recommended the University skills into all our degree courses. We want as a good place to work and 91% also say this our graduates to stand out by equipping them is a friendly place to work. with skills and attributes that will enable them to make a real difference in the world As ever, I would like to thank all our staff for as global citizens. their hard work, engagement, innovation and teamwork during the past year and I remain We are delighted that recent national survey confident that those qualities will drive us data supports this: 96% of our most recent UK forward in the challenging and exciting times undergraduates are in employment or further ahead. I hope that you enjoy reading this study six months after finishing their studies. Annual Report. Furthermore, 87% of graduates surveyed and in employment after three-and-a-half years Professor Rama Thirunamachandran were in graduate jobs, compared to 84% Vice-Chancellor and Principal nationally. This is a positive reflection of the high-quality education students receive at Christ Church. The past year has also seen the creation of a number of change initiatives, including the semesterisation of the academic year. The combined effect of these various initiatives Annual Report 2016/17 03 KEY ACHIEVEMENTS FOR 2016/17 SILVER FOR TEACHING EXCELLENCE The University received a prestigious Silver rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework, exceeding national quality requirements for UK universities TOP 20 FOR QUALIFIED TOP TEACHING STAFF Among the country’s top 20 universities for teaching 20 staff qualifications* FRIENDLY WORKPLACE In our latest staff survey, 86% of our staff would recommend the University as a good place to work and 91% 91% say this is a friendly place to work E C U G INVESTING IN OUR STAFF E N D Athena SWAN Bronze award in recognition of our E R E R C HA R T commitment to gender equality *Higher Education Funding Council for England 04 Canterbury Christ Church University NATIONAL FUNDING FOR ENGINEERING, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY Awarded £13 million of Government funding to create the Kent and Medway Engineering, Design, Growth and Enterprise (EDGE) Hub – £13 m a major new first-class facility to support high-value employment, investment and economic growth in science, engineering and technology THE ECONOMIST TOP 30 TOP The Economist ranked Christ Church in the top 30 universities for boosting graduate salaries* 30 EXCELLENT EMPLOYABILITY 96% of our students go on to work or further study within six months of completing their studies** 96% STRONG GRADUATE PROSPECTS 9 out of 10 of our employed graduates are in graduate-level jobs three-and-a-half years after finishing their studies – higher than the national average*** 9/10 *https://www.economist.com/news/britain/21726100-our-new-guide-answers-which-british-universities-do-most-boost-graduate-salaries **according to the Destinations of Leavers from Higher