General Assembly is a forum open to all staff, which is led by the Vice-Chancellor and runs on a termly basis. Its objectives are to provide clarity on the University’s purpose and everyone’s role in supporting this, and to improve engagement across the University by serving as a place to listen, exchange ideas and ask questions.    

At the event, Professor Nick Jennings presented attendees with information about the following:   

• Updates on the progress of the six Core Plans linked to our University strategy, Creating Better Futures Together  

• Progress on enhancing our student accommodation, following a recently submitted planning application to build a new 552-bed hall of residence on the Loughborough campus 

• Our recently launched Sustainability Strategy 

• A financial update for 2024/2025, both at a local level and more widely across the Higher Education sector 

• Recent successes across the University, including being named Educational Institute of the Year at the FEVO Sports Industry Awards and four technicians shortlisted for the Papin Prizes awards.  

Rachael Alvey, Loughborough Students’ Union’s President, also presented at General Assembly some of the biggest LSU successes from this year and provided an overview of projects they hope to be able to launch soon.  

As part of General Assembly, attendees were able to ask Professor Jennings and other members of the Senior Leadership team questions. A broad overview of the themes can be found below: 

Car parking and travel across campus 

• In response to the proposed student accommodation and expansion of the Loughborough University Science and Enterprise Park (LUSEP), some attendees raised concerns about the car parking provision on the Loughborough campus. Whilst the University has enough spaces across campus to accommodate its users, it is aware that they are not always in the right places. Therefore, a review is currently underway which is considering what areas across campus can be made available to suit more of our campus users.  

• We’re also reviewing the bus service provision to support this, as well as exploring additional sustainable travel options such as moving to electric buses and creating additional walkways and footpaths across campus.   

• Other longer-term solutions are also being considered to improve car parking and travel across campus, however some of these will require significant financial investment.  

University’s financial position and current or future initiatives 

Some colleagues raised questions regarding the University’s financial position, in relation to our recently launched academic recruitment campaign, the UCEA final pay offer, and whether further cost-saving measures may be necessary in the future.  

The University is currently in a good position financially in comparison to some UK universities, which is why it is able to launch an academic recruitment campaign. The timing of this campaign will support our REF submission, and appointments made will strengthen not only our research and innovation but also our teaching provision.  

Additionally, the University will soon be launching a promotion route for University Teachers. There will be an initial round this autumn. More information about this scheme will be shared soon.  

In case you missed it, a recording of General Assembly is now available to watch (please note sign-in may be required). The next General Assembly will take place on Wednesday 26 November.