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A Christmas Message from the Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor David Maguire
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As we draw near to the end of the year, I want to start by saying thank you for all the support and encouragement you keep giving to our University community. Despite the undeniable challenges faced by the higher education sector in the UK, your belief in our values and mission has been a crucial source of strength and inspiration, enabling us to implement a clear, strategic plan that ensures our long-term financial stability and growth.
This year we welcomed UEA’s eighth Chancellor, Dame Jenny Abramsky GBE (ENG65) whose experience is making a significant impact on our institution. As the Chair of our brand new ambitious fundraising campaign, Dare to Do Different, Dame Jenny is driving efforts to secure the resources needed to enhance opportunities for our students, bolster our research initiatives, and increase our global impact. I encourage you to join us in this transformative journey as we collaborate to shape the future of our University and Dare to Do Different together.
This summer, we were also pleased to welcome Prof Steven McGuire as the new Pro-Vice-Chancellor (International). He has been actively travelling to meet with alumni and friends worldwide. His efforts to strengthen these important connections are contributing to the development of a vibrant and engaged global community, which is essential to our collective success.
2024 has demonstrated the exceptional capabilities and resilience of our students, staff and alumni. We have witnessed:
- Significant research in addressing climate change:
UEA’s Glider Science Group, led by Professor Karen Heywood, continued its incredible work with a polar expedition aboard the RRS Sir David Attenborough, advancing our understanding of carbon cycling in the Southern Ocean
Our world-renowned scientists, including those from the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change, are conducting vital research to combat global warming and safeguard our planet for future generations
UEA graduate Dr Sandhya Sukumaran (ENV08) was named the national winner of the Science and Sustainability Award by the British Council in India
- Accolades, research and enriching conversations in healthcare:
Dr Darrell Green who is leading a critical research into Childhood, Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer was honoured with the Freedom of the City of London for his work in genetics
Sir Paul Nurse, a distinguished Nobel Prize-winning alumnus, delivered an inspiring lecture on scientific revolutions, demonstrating the global impact of UEA’s alumni and their contributions to both science and society
UEA alumnus and social media star, Jim Chapman (SWP06) visited campus and shared his favourite campus spots for relaxation while emphasizing the importance of mental health
- Outstanding collaboration in the creative sector:
Our collaboration with Arts Council England is set to enrich Norfolk’s cultural landscape
UEA’s 2023 Innovation and Impact Awards, celebrated the exceptional achievements of Tsitsi Dangarembga and Professor Jean McNeil who received the Outstanding Social or Cultural Impact Award for their work on the International Chair of Creative Writing Africa Year (2021-22)
The Gloucester (1682) Project received the Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Outstanding Achievement and was shortlisted for the Research Project of the Year at The Times Higher Education Awards, taking place in November 2024. Prof Claire Jowitt, Professor of English and History, also received the prestigious Freedom of the City of London for her exemplary leadership on this project.
Our creative alumni community continues to shine: Jade Cuttle, named a 2024 New Generation Thinker by the BBC and AHRC, is pioneering research in Black British nature poets, and Ferdia Lennon, a 2015 graduate, won the Waterstones Debut Fiction Prize for Glorious Exploits.
- A sustainable and inclusive campus environment:
Through scholarships, business grants for student entrepreneurs, and assistance for those facing financial hardship, we’re committed to supporting future leaders and emerging innovators from all backgrounds.
Plans are underway to establish a world-leading Centre of Advanced Environmental Microbiology as part of the renovation of Lasdun Wall’s Building 3, which includes the creation of sustainable new science research laboratories. This is a vital step in our efforts to reach net-zero carbon by 2040.
These examples represent just a fraction of the outstanding work being accomplished across UEA, made possible by the support of our alumni and philanthropic partners. As we celebrate the season of giving, I want to thank each and every one of you for being our advocates and consistently demonstrating your support. Your contributions – whether through philanthropic initiatives, mentorship or advocacy – serve as the foundation of our progress and aspirations for the future.
On behalf of all of us here at UEA, I wish you a joyous holiday season and a new year filled with hope, happiness and success. Together, let’s continue to change the world.
Warm regards,
Prof David Maguire
Vice-Chancellor and President