from the principal ....

Welcome to the start of the new academic year - and a new chapter for the University of Dundee. I am particularly pleased to welcome the new intake of students who will refresh and enliven the work of the University and many new members of staff who will go on to make their own distinctive contributions to higher learning and research.

After considerable activity over the past three years the redevelopment of the city centre campus is progressing well and this year’s students will be among the first to benefit from a range of new facilities including the superb new teaching building at Heathfield opened by Her Majesty the Queen in July, first class student residences, dedicated postgraduate facilities and the newly extended library and sports facilities due to open later this year. We are pleased to have the School of Education, Social Work and Community Education back on campus where they can take advantage of closer contact with the wider university and state of the art Heathfield premises to develop their vision for the school. At Ninewells, progress is also being made to develop the Clinical Research Centre, the Translational Medical Research facility and the Institute of Medical Science and Technology.

Dundee can celebrate a number of very positive achievements over recent months. The results of the Ipsos Mori National Student Survey show our students to be among the most satisfied in the UK with their experience. This is the first time that the University has participated in the student survey and the results underline excellence in learning and teaching, previously measured by QAA subject reviews and ELIR - the enhancement led institutional review. This is good news but we are not complacent and we are now examining our students’ responses in detail to determine where improvements need to be made. Our provision of e-learning continues to develop and Dundee’s position as a leader in the sector was recognised at a recent awards ceremony when Dundee related projects took a first, second and third prize in different categories at the Association for Learning Technology conference in Nottingham. Particular congratulations to Hannah Whaley of the University’s Learning Centre who was named Learning Technologist of the Year.

Over the last twelve months and against fierce competition, Dundee’s reputation for research excellence has secured awards of £76m funding for projects over the next few years. Preparations for the RAE are also well advanced and we made a number of key academic appointments over recent months which will enhance our research capability into the future.

At its June meeting the University agreed a strategic framework for the future development of the University and set exacting financial parameters for the next five years. The distinctive themes of our forward plan are to support translational research and professional education and to encourage creative relationships at the interface between disciplines which will enable us to tackle relevant contemporary issues like climate change, energy security and the assessment and use of new technologies. These issues will be discussed more widely in the University community in the coming months as we continue to redefine our approach to take account of demographic change, a more competitive research environment and public spending constraints which will put a premium on using existing resources wisely and generating new forms of income.

The University is well positioned to tackle the challenges which lie ahead and I wish everyone well for the new academic year.

Alan Langlands