Annual Review

Education

Our staff have continued to excel, while providing invaluable input for an important overhaul of our teaching organisation

• All change: Staff have continued to play a key role in the development of our Change Programme, which will create major changes to teaching organisation and academic structures.
• High-flyers: Nine subjects were ranked in the world top 100 in the QS World Rankings, with three in the top 30. We moved up four places to 18th in the Complete University Guide 2022, which places us first in the Yorkshire and Humber region, moving up one place to overtake Leeds. Seven subjects were in the top 10.
• On the rise: Our MOOCs have once again increased in popularity. More than 200,000 learners have taken part in the free online courses, with 140,000 enrolling since the first national lockdown in early 2020.
• Fitting tribute: Our tenth college opened its doors on Campus East. The Anne Lister College, named after the ‘first modern lesbian’, is the first University college to be named after a woman.

Partnership

Our partnerships and initiatives in the city, region and around the world, are creating new, exciting opportunities

• Social impact: The University expanded its commitment on social mobility and equality. A major report was published by the University and former MP Justine Greening and the Purpose Coalition, which highlights key actions required to reduce inequality on a local, national and global scale. 
• New opportunity: York and regional university partners will be improving access for under-represented Postgraduate Students. The Yorkshire Consortium for Equity in Doctoral Education (YCEDE) has been awarded funding from the Office for Students and Research England, and will be investing more than £3.6m. New opportunities will include a PhD scholarship scheme for Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic applicants.
• Landmark move: The University signed a 15-year lease on one of the city's iconic buildings, the Guildhall, which will become a city centre hub for business, enterprise and events.
• Research firsts: Partnerships and collaborations regionally and internationally continue to offer ground-breaking research opportunities. One such area is in autonomous systems. The University's Institute for Safe Autonomy will soon be working with local partners to develop spaces for testing autonomous land and air vehicles.
• Mental health: Plans for an Interdisciplinary Institute of Mental Health Research were announced, which will develop and extend our external partnerships in this field.
• Transforming lives: The Universities of York and Hull, with education charity IntoUniversity, have joined forces to create new opportunities for disadvantaged young people in Hull. In an area where over 50% of children grow up in poverty, and as few as 10% go to university, we will support low-income students to defy the odds stacked against them. Opening in September 2022, we've raised £1.3M to make this happen, thanks to the generosity of our partners and donors.

• Celebrating equality: As part of Black History Month, the University hosted a range of community events to celebrate the 2021 theme, Proud to Be. In support of our city partners for York Pride, Vice-Chancellor Charlie Jeffery raised the Progress Pride flag for the first time. Earlier in the year, an inclusive road crossing featuring the flag’s colours was created at Spring Lane.
• Doing the business: York became the first university to receive Good Business Charter (GBC) accreditation in recognition of its commitment to responsible business practices. Founding members include Deloitte, Capita, Brompton Bikes and London City airport.

Community

Despite the challenges of the pandemic, our sense of community continues to inspire us to achieve more and make a lasting difference

• Strategy launch: More than 700 staff, over three days, attended the launch of the new University Strategy. The York community has been instrumental over the past two years in helping develop the plan to 2030.
• Fair pay: The University and YCL (Commercial Services, Science Park Ltd and York Sport), will become real Living Wage employers. It forms a core part of a commitment to fair pay. The People’s Pension scheme is also changing, with the amount the University contributes set to increase, along with an option for members' contributions to rise. 
• The right balance: The new remote working policy has been successfully implemented, receiving positive feedback for supporting work life balance by giving staff more choice. 
• Net gains: The University announced its commitment to achieving net zero carbon emissions on campus by 2030, as part of the new 2021-2030 Sustainability Plan. The Environmental Sustainability Academy at York – a pan-institutional initiative that connects our research, education, and knowledge exchange activities – has also been launched.

• Giving generously: Walkers from all around the world took part in The Great York Walk, covering 25,000 miles. The group of 568 students, staff, alumni and friends raised £35,675 for Mentally Fit York, and more than £137,000 was raised in just 36 hours during the York Unlimited Giving Day.

• Votes are in: In the YUSU Elections 2021, 52 candidates took part, 30,612 votes were cast, £2,600 was raised for charity, and more than 36 per cent of the candidates were the first person in their immediate family to go University. Patrick O’Donnell was voted YUSU President for a second term. Three new Sabbatical Officers were elected in the Graduate Students’ Association (GSA) Leadership Elections, including new President Viviane Yuxin Cao. And thousands of postgraduate students voted in the GSA Autumn Elections, with 300 candidates vying for 99 positions.
• Student support: YUSU recruited 19 students as Mental Health Champions, continuing a scheme begun the year before to promote peer-to-peer support in the student community. 
• Welcome return:  Both student unions again hosted large-scale events at the heart of campus to welcome new students, with highlights including YUSU’s Freshers’ Festival and the GSA Welcome Festival.
• Good sports: Student athletes raised £1,300 for mental health charity York Mind during the 2021 Roses Unlocked tournament. Thirty-five teams entered, with up to 750 students taking part. 
• Club together: During 2021, thousands of pounds was raised by student groups, clubs and Colleges, increasing the total from 2020 to stand at £105,000 – this was despite many in-person fundraising events not being possible. 

• Take note: A York masters student’s debut single reached number seven in the Official Singles Chart. James Hargreaves, who studied an MA in Music Education, now has his sights set on releasing an album following the Good To Be Back EP success.
• Role models: Two students won prestigious awards at the Yorkshire Asian Young Achiever Awards (YAYAs). PhD Chemistry student Ruhee Dawood, 23, was nominated for the YAYAs Achievement in School or College award category for mentoring in STEM subjects. MA Global Literature and Culture student, Sonia Hunjan, 24, was recognised in the Overcoming Life Obstacles award.  
• Volunteering: Students continued to make a difference through a wide range of volunteering projects. These included ​​working with local community organisations and supermarkets to re-distribute food that would have otherwise been thrown away to reduce food waste. Door Natters saw students delivering postcards to houses across the city explaining how the scheme could support people. Any postcards then placed in windows would indicate if the person living there would like to talk to a volunteer. New projects have included All Should Eat (the organisation of food collections on campus and delivery to local food banks), Sing Inside York (student volunteers promote musical education by bringing singing workshops into UK Prisons), and Shelter Support (running food and clothing drives on campus).