Hi All,
There have been lots of recent developments at Cardiff Met and exciting prospects for the future, you may have lots of questions about this. We are constantly liaising with the University to ensure you have the most up to date information so I will try to explain some of the changes that you may have heard about below. Hopefully the passage will reassure you that your experience as a student is being protected.
I’ve heard that the School of Sport and School of Health Sciences are merging?
Yes, CSS and CSHS will merge to create the Cardiff School of Sport and Health Sciences with a view to developing a nationally leading School on a single campus at Cyncoed with investment in new teaching space, accommodation and sport and health facilities. Merging the schools will be a process that will take a number of years and will be phased to minimise disruption.
If I’m a Health Sciences student, will I be moving to Cyncoed in September?
No students will move from Llandaff to Cyncoed for the academic year 2017/18 and few, if any current students will move during their time at Cardiff Met. The new School will be up and running in name by September 2017 and if there are any proposals that recommend a change of campus for student’s during their programme, it has been agreed that a full consultation with students will be undertaken through the Students’ Union.
If I’m an education student, where will I be studying in September?
Your programme will continue as planned at Cyncoed and it is unlikely that many currently registered students will need to move during the course of their programme of study at Cardiff Met. From 2020 it is intended to that the School of Education is relocated to the new City Centre campus.
What is the Cardiff School of Technologies?
The University’s new Strategic Plan includes the creation of the Cardiff School of Technologies, which will be located in the new City Centre campus. The new school will offer courses in digital media and smart technology, data science and informatics and design technologies and engineering. It is expected to open in 2020 and will host around 2,000 students. The School of Technologies will be effective in name as of September 2017, with a number of computing-related courses based on Llandaff Campus. Full details can be found here.
Will there be any changes to the staff?
Yes. The new strategic plan requires a more streamlined senior management team with some new roles and changes to staff structures. A voluntary severance package has been offered to staff in an attempt to reduce staffing costs so finances can be channelled into improving student experience. Applications from staff for voluntary severance may be declined if arrangements cannot be made to ensure continued high levels of student experience.
What is voluntary severance?
Voluntary severance (VS) is a financial incentive package offered to all permanent members of staff who may wish to voluntarily resign – it is widely used when downsizing or restructuring organisations. This will enable the University to reduce its salary bill, redirect resource to the development of an outstanding student experience and plan investment in new academic areas and facilities.
Appointments
You may have seen that the university has appointed a number of new staff. A new Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sushila Chang will join Cardiff Met on 4 September 2017 and you can read her biog here. A new post of Pro Vice-Chancellor Student Engagement will be taken up by Dr Jacqui Boddington on 18th September. On 1st October Professor Leigh Robinson will join as Pro Vice-Chancellor for the Cyncoed Campus and Executive Dean of the School of Sport and Health Sciences and on 30th October John Cavani will join as Director of Marketing and External Relations.
If you have anything further to ask, please feel free to contact me (wfuller@cardiffmet.ac.uk) or you can channel any feedback or questions to your student reps. Details about your reps can be found here and will be updated in September as new reps are appointed. In future, messages about any changes will be communicated through the Students’ Union and your student reps, so be sure to get to know who they are, or become a rep yourself.
Enjoy the rest of your summer!
Will Fuller
SU President