Episode 15: University mergers old and new, preparing for students in September and Universities working together for Nottingham

Episode 15 in the series of podcasts featuring University Registrars talking about stuff. This time Paul Greatrix talks to Steve Denton, Registrar and Chief Operating Officer at Nottingham Trent University, about a variety of big ticket items  in higher education at the moment, including, of course, matters pandemic. We look at Steve’s long career in the sector in a series of institutions where, for one reason or another, he has been involved in mergers or the consequences of them including some significant governance challenges. And the fact that they all seem to change their names after he has moved on...

The prospect for new mergers in the sector looms large and we also cover the response of NTU and its staff to the lockdown as well as the huge programme of preparations for the new session in September, not least the issues to be addressed with the arrival of thousands of students into the city. The vital role played by both universities in the City of Nottingham is explored together with the issues, challenges and benefits that brings for the region and the ways in which the two institutions are working collaboratively and with other partners, under the Universities for Nottingham banner, to try to make a difference. There is also consideration of the response of universities to the issues raised by the Black Lives Matter movement.