Annual Report
2020
A year like no other...
Never before has our Annual Report reflected on such a challenging, unprecedented year in the history of our university.
During the academic year 2019/20, significant changes were introduced, both in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, and as part of our longer term planning which will ensure a bright, exciting future.
Enquiring minds, inspirational teaching, pioneering research, global ambition, local commitment and social purpose are the foundations which underpin the University of York.
This introduction to our 2020 report demonstrates how we continue to embrace these qualities and values that motivate and inspire us in everything we do, especially in the most uncertain of times.
16th
in the Guardian University Guide 2021
1st
Top Russell Group university for academic support and learning opportunities in the National Student Survey 2020
18,755
Students
4,486
Staff
£376m
Total income
£68m
Total research income
A message from our Vice-Chancellor and President
This has been a year unlike any other. It has, inevitably, been dominated by Covid-19. The effects of the pandemic are deep. The toll on our health, in the UK and worldwide, has been devastating. We have seen the biggest short-term contraction of the global economy for a century. And these health and economic impacts have particularly borne down on the most vulnerable in our societies, making existing inequalities worse.
From spring 2020 the University of York too has been dominated by Covid-19. We have seen the biggest disruption the University has ever faced. Many of our staff, students and alumni have faced illness. Some have lost loved ones. We have had to live with deep uncertainty as the pandemic has progressed and government guidance has changed, from lockdown, to relaxation, to local area restrictions, to lockdown again.
As I write this foreword – just before Christmas 2020 – we have seen the first stages of the vaccination programme that, we hope, will accelerate the return to something like normality. As we look ahead to that I would like to record my thanks to all those who have, through their resilience, adaptability, creativity and compassion, enabled us to continue our work in research, student education,
civic commitment and international engagement: our staff, students, alumni
and partners, here in York but also in all corners of the world.
We have never lost sight of our commitment that the University of York exists for public good. That commitment is all the more important as we look ahead to the vital role we will have to play in the national and global recovery from the pandemic.
Professor Charlie Jeffery
Vice-Chancellor and President
A message from our Chair of University Council
The period of time this report reflects upon could not have produced more contrasting circumstances for the University. From the second half of 2019, and a period of great positivity and energy for the University – in large part due to the invigoration and direction of our new Vice-Chancellor – through to the extraordinary and clearly very challenging circumstances brought about by the pandemic in early 2020.
The University, like the wider higher education sector and businesses across the UK and internationally, has had to face up to an escalating crisis and a prolonged period of uncertainty.
We have experienced tragic personal losses affecting our staff; our students at home and abroad; our suppliers; and the wider York community, for which we send our deepest condolences.
Our Vice-Chancellor Charlie Jeffery had been in post for just five months when the pandemic hit the UK. I have been hugely impressed by the way in which he has not only assimilated so quickly into our community, but has taken a decisive and strategic lead in navigating a safe path for all our staff and students.
He has also further developed important relationships, engaging directly with stakeholders including our neighbours, the residents of York, City of York Council, Public Health England, government ministers, and many others.
Denise Jagger
Chair of University Council
I would like to record my thanks to all those who have, through their resilience, adaptability, creativity and compassion, enabled us to continue our work in research, student education, civic commitment and international engagement: our staff, students, alumni and partners, here in York but also in all corners of the world.
Professor Charlie Jeffery
Vice-Chancellor and President
We have never lost sight of our commitment that the University of York exists for public good. That commitment is all the more important as we look ahead to the vital role we will have to play in the national and global recovery from the pandemic.
Professor Charlie Jeffery
Vice-Chancellor and President
Our community
Our students
Our students responded quickly, providing essential support when it was needed
- NHS support: More than 100 Hull York Medical School (HYMS) students graduated early to take up interim posts in the NHS. Another 100 student nurses volunteered to start work early as part of extended placements. More than 30 Medicine students took up volunteering opportunities at Trusts and GP surgeries across the region.
- A happy meal: Student volunteers joined Commercial Services staff to pack and deliver 2,000 lunches a day to frontline staff at York Hospital.
- Global vision: Student Theo Conway developed the Lockdown Index, a website to give up-to-date global information on travel restrictions and lockdowns.
- Roses in bloom: The largest inter-university sporting competition in Europe – the annual Roses tournament with Lancaster University – moved online. The event raised £4,703 for Cancer Research UK and Age UK.
- Join the club: Students took up hundreds of volunteering opportunities, such as joining the Tea and Coffee Club, where students support older members of the community to ensure they have social contact. Organisations locally and nationally continued to benefit from our students' talents through student internships and placement years.
- Going green: The Students’ Union (YUSU) venues received the highest Green Impact award with a rating of ‘excellent’. The award highlighted investments in recycled outdoor furniture, recycling facilities on campus and student activities such as beekeeping and clothes recycling.
- Vote winner: York was placed in the top ten UK universities for voter turnout in student union elections.
- Essential advice: A hundred per cent of respondents were satisfied that the information and advice they received from YUSU's independent advice service made a difference, while 75 per cent felt it enabled them to better manage their studies, according to a student union survey.
- Community support: A Covid Community Facebook group was launched in April as a way of students sharing their lockdown stories and activities and asking for peer-to-peer support. In its first two weeks it gained 1,000 members.
Final-year medical students volunteered to start working early for the NHS to provide vital support during the early stages of the pandemic
Final-year medical students volunteered to start working early for the NHS to provide vital support during the early stages of the pandemic
Students are presented with accolades at the Student Volunteering Awards
Students are presented with accolades at the Student Volunteering Awards
In the Department of Physics, researchers used laser-light technology to develop handheld biosensors with the potential to deliver fast, real-time blood test results for patients including those suffering from Covid-19
In the Department of Physics, researchers used laser-light technology to develop handheld biosensors with the potential to deliver fast, real-time blood test results for patients including those suffering from Covid-19
Our staff
Our colleagues have been inspirational in their response to the pandemic, ensuring we continue to deliver a world-class teaching experience.
- Protein breakthrough: Researchers from the York Structural Biology Laboratory, in the Department of Chemistry, produced a protein that stores and protects the genome of the SARS-CoV-2 virus (Covid-19), paving the way to possible antiviral therapies.
- NHS support: Technicians made face shields for frontline workers. The University trained cardiac rehabilitation teams to deliver home-based rehabilitation to patients. High-tech equipment was loaned to York Hospital for the diagnosis of Covid-19, with staff from the Department of Biology and Hull York Medical School recruited to increase the number of daily tests undertaken at the hospital.
- Learning stars: Staff developed a range of homeschooling resources for teachers and parents to use during and after the Covid-19 lockdowns, with topics ranging from the Vikings to neutron stars.
- Business boost: University staff and tutors developed a suite of free, online training courses for businesses and charities to help them cope with lockdown.
- Top honours: Vice-Chancellor and President Charlie Jeffery received the Queen’s Anniversary Prize on behalf of the York Structural Biology Laboratory. Dr Kirsty Penkman became the Blavatnik Family Foundation's Chemistry Laureate for 2020. Dr Glenn Hurst was named the winner of the RSC’s Higher Education Teaching Award.
- Research success: Our wide and varied portfolio of research now includes BioYorkshire, a bold new green agenda to create jobs and boost the regional economy. The York-Maastricht partnership continues to progress, with the first round of funding announced, supporting £2m of research collaborations.
- Teaching excellence: The University came 20th in the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2021, and first for academic support and learning opportunities in the 2020 National Student Survey.
- Sustainability: Staff and students teamed up with pupils from local schools to plant more than 1,000 trees in one day as part of One Planet Week.
Our alumni and partners
Our global community of 130,000 alumni and donors has provided help for students most in need
- Emergency action: We were one of the first UK universities to set up an Emergency Student Support Fund (ESSF). Up to 600 emergency awards, distributing £410,300, were made, with up to 820 students receiving support for living, health, travel and study costs.
- Millions raised: Up to 4,800 donors have given to projects such as York Profiles & Mentors, with £12.9m raised, and 15,475 hours of volunteering.
- Life-changing scholarships: During 2019/20, more than 1,000 financial awards and scholarships have been made to our students, thanks to campaigns such as York Unlimited.
- Breaking new ground: With generous support from our donors, we have now begun building two new research facilities. A new cryo-electron microscopy facility will help advance understanding of how to treat diabetes, while the Assuring Autonomy Research facility will focus on the safety of robotics and other systems that use artificial intelligence.
York Unlimited has a made a real difference to scholars such as Butshilo Nleya
York Unlimited has a made a real difference to scholars such as Butshilo Nleya
Find out more:
Read the full Annual Report and Financial Statements 2020.
Learn more about our teaching achievements, cutting-edge research, and the life-changing impact of our alumni.
Find out more about one of our leading community events, York Festival of Ideas.
Contacts:
Professor Charlie Jeffery Vice-Chancellor and President
vc@york.ac.uk +44 (0)1904 322009
Tracy Lightfoot Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Teaching, Learning and Students
tracy.lightfoot@york.ac.uk +44 (0)1904 322009
Matthias Ruth Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research
matthias.ruth@york.ac.uk +44 (0)1904 326707
Professor Kiran Trehan Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Partnerships and Engagement
kiran.trehan@york.ac.uk +44 (0)1904 322318
Joan Concannon Director of External Relations
joan.concannon@york.ac.uk +44 (0)1904 322193
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