02 Leader column Reporter 598 June 2016 Leader column The promise of summer to come June is a good month at the University – exams are over for most of our students, the campus is looking at its very best, and there is still the promise of graduation ceremonies and the rest of the summer to come. Progress is also being made on new facilities at the Edward Boyle responsible leaders and influencers. At the house and gym extension are completed library, and for the Institute for end of the challenge the students will present and work will soon begin on a cycle track their ideas about what makes a successful city and revamped sports pavilion at Bodington Transport Studies and the School to audiences in both New York and Leeds. I’m sports ground. The number of our students of Fine Art, History of Art and sure that their reflections and suggestions will participating in sport has increased and Cultural Studies. be fascinating, and I look forward to seeing we hope that this will continue to grow. The them being shared with a wider University University Council recently agreed additional For some of our students, the opportunities public. investment to help alleviate some of the cost offered during the long summer break will be pressures on students participating in sport, life-changing. I am sure that the 17 outstanding Closer to home, June also sees the launch of particularly those in teams and organised undergraduates who have won a place on the Priestley Centre – our new £6m climate programmes. This was a gap identified in the the University’s inaugural Leeds to New York centre which, through the power of research Sport Strategy and, by closing it, we aim to Student Leadership Challenge will undoubtedly and education, will work with international improve the experience of those students who find the experience unlike anything they partners to tackle the challenges of ensuring are already playing in teams and also ensure have previously encountered. The seven-day a healthier, more sustainable planet for future that barriers to participation are lowered to programme combines meetings with business generations. increase involvement. I am delighted to say that people and academics, alumni presentations, As I write, the World Triathlon Series is about to our progress is being widely recognised; the workshops and site visits in both Leeds take place in Leeds, and we can be justly proud Times Higher now ranks us first in the Russell and New York, to investigate the leadership that all three of the UK men’s team are either Group for sport and fifth in the UK overall. challenges facing these cities. It fits perfectly alumni – Alistair Brownlee (Sports Science with our strategic aim of providing students Work continues on the final phase of the and Physiology 2009) and his brother Jonny with an outstanding education which equips improvement to the Leeds University Union (History 2012) – or an undergraduate, Gordon them “to succeed in a competitive global building and – most unusually for a construction Benson (BSc Nutrition). These three athletes employment market and to make a difference”. project! – it will be completed ahead of the have also been selected for the Rio Olympics. Many more will spend time studying abroad, in original schedule and is due to open as early All train at the Leeds Triathlon Centre – which work placements, supporting research teams in as April 2017. When complete, it will provide includes our facility The Edge as a key training Leeds or on field trips, and volunteering. our students, and the many staff who use base – run jointly by ourselves, Leeds Beckett the building, with superb new facilities. The Support from the Footsteps Fund has and Leeds City Council. World Triathlon Series refurbishment was brought about in part thanks enabled the new opportunity for leadership athletes Vicky Holland and Non Stanford, two to the commitment and efforts of successive development, which also responds to a request of the likely women’s Olympic team, also train LUU executive officers, and I would like to from our North American alumni to have at the Centre. Our academics, too, are experts thank the 2015-16 outgoing exec team for their more direct contact with our students. The on the triathlon, whether it be the analysing contributions. All the officers have played a vital programme is an excellent example of how the most successful techniques, dealing with role in bringing the student voice to bear on the we can pool our resources and strengths to injuries, or advising the athletes on individual business and strategy of the University. I’m very produce something remarkable. Its design performance strategies. much looking forward to working with the new and delivery has been enabled through a Sport is a serious business – the University executive headed by Jack Palmer, the Unions collaboration between staff from the Alumni understands what a valuable part it can play Affairs Officer, and including Melissa Owusu, & Development Office, Student Careers and in the lives of our students and the wider who was re-elected as Education Officer. We are Learning Enhancement, 15 of our alumni in community. One of the distinctive things very fortunate to have such a strong Partnership the New York area, and Common Purpose, our about our approach to sport is that it is now with LUU and I hope that it will continue to learning partners who have a successful track delivered by a single team – comprising staff flourish in the year ahead. record in delivering international leadership from the University and Leeds University Union development programmes. This challenge – housed in one location, making it easier for is just one element of our excellent Student students to navigate their way through the many Leadership Programme but it reinforces the excellent opportunities on offer. depth of our commitment to students and our determination to equip them with the skills As well as improving our service, we continue and understanding to develop as effective, to invest in our sports facilities. The new boat Vice-Chancellor Sir Alan Langlands.