Environment submissions database

The University’s response to Covid-19 has been similar to the rest of the UK higher education sector. The March 2020 lockdown resulted in the immediate change to home-working for all staff and students, focusing staff to transition to on-line teaching, closure of almost all research laboratories, and cancellation of field studies. Several laboratories conducting Covid-related research or that were impractical to close entirely, continued to operate. In addition, clinical academic staff, particularly in Medicine and Health Sciences, prioritised their clinical practice in anticipation of increased case-load. The period March-May showed a radical decline in funding applications and awards, consistent with our funders pausing many programmes they had in-train. Following a thorough risk assessment and production of overarching principles, and the requirement for implementation of Covid-safe operating procedures, laboratories and other experimental facilities were reopened in June/July 2020. We estimate that these are working at an average 65% productivity with significant variation depending on the particular operations. Some field work has resumed. Overseas travel has been almost entirely prevented and sabbaticals/study leaves have been postponed. All staff and students who are returning to working on campus are required to have conducted a personal risk assessment, including assessment of their level of vulnerability to Covid, and appropriate safety protocols are in place. Despite these mitigations, many projects, including doctoral theses, have been delayed. The UKRI provisions for doctoral students, matched by the University, and its Covid allocation have reduced but not eliminated the impact on people and careers. Up to November 2020, Covid cases amongst students and staff at the University had remained below the levels in the local population. The pandemic has interrupted our progress towards our long-term strategic ambitions. A refresh of the University strategy was put on hold in March and a Bridging Strategy developed, with a 1-2 year timeframe, which was approved by Council in July 2020. While rearticulating the long-term ambitions of a research-intensive university with excellence in education and enterprise, and the intent expressed in the REF 5a, the Bridging Strategy places a higher focus on the immediate importance of ensuring the wellbeing of our people, and a stronger emphasis on the University’s place in the local community. It also emphasises the need to maintain a strong cash position to cater for contingencies. A principal scenario for our 2020/21 finances has been developed and is guiding our financial planning and expenditure. At the end of financial year 2019/20, the overall financial position of the University was healthy with research income, applications submitted and awards received at or above the planned numbers set at the start of the year. This reflects a particularly strong last two months (June/July) after the initial period of lockdown. It also reflects intense engagement by many staff and students in Covid-relevant research and enterprise, including participating as a major site for the Oxford Vaccine trial, the development of a pilot programme for city-wide testing, the PeRSo project to produce respirators, and strong participation in the national modelling effort.