Dean's Report

COVID-19

We are certainly living through extraordinary times, every day presents new challenges as we deal with the rapidly evolving COVID-19 situation. As of last night we have become a virtual campus meaning that we will be conducting our work online and from home. This is a major development for us all and will require adjustments as we transition to this new reality. I am extremely grateful to be working with such dedicated, creative and committed staff willing to support each other and, importantly, our students. I am also keenly aware that such a serious and unprecedented circumstance as COVID-19 is having a major effect on our families, on our caring responsibilities and on how we run our lives and that it is important that we take the time to adjust and to take care of ourselves.

This week we have a pause in teaching as we prepare to transition to fully online teaching. We have established a Digital Taskforce to ensure that we deliver the highest quality digital learning possible. This work will be led by Dr Nicky Dulfer and I thank her for taking on this responsibility at such a critical time. The University has also developed resources to assist staff in the transition to working from home. Some weeks ago, we established an MGSE COVID-19 incident control group and they will continue to meet remotely to monitor the situation. There is constantly updated information available on our MGSE Intranet and the University’s Staff Hub and I recommend staff check in regularly, in particular there is very useful information about working from home. As I have mentioned before Chancellery is coordinating the University’s response to this crisis and cascading information through the Graduate Schools and Faculties to ensure consistent communication to all stakeholders.

Appointment of Professor in Educational Leadership

I am delighted to announce that Professor Yong Zhao will be joining MGSE as our Professor in Educational Leadership from June this year. Professor Zhao is the first of our new Professors to be appointed as part of our senior academic leadership recruitment drive. His work has focused on the implications of globalisation and technology on education and he has published over 100 articles and 30 books.  Currently a Foundation Distinguished Professor in the School of Education at the University of Kansas he has previously served in senior academic roles at the Institute for Global and Online Education in the College of Education at the University of Oregon, and at Michigan State University. I am greatly looking forward to Professor Zhao joining us here at MGSE where I’m sure we will all benefit from his expertise and leadership.