Features / Evelyn Welch
10 Questions: Evelyn Welch – ‘We aren’t growing student numbers for the sake of it’
Evelyn Welch took up the post of vice chancellor of the University of Bristol with little fanfare in September 2022.
She is the university’s 14th VC, and the first woman in the role. Welch, who is also a historian (and Florence and the Machine’s mum) was awarded an MBE for her services to higher education and the creative economy in 2013.
In the latest edition of Bristol247’s quarterly magazine, Welch agreed to answer questions submitted by our readers, with no topic off limits.
is needed now More than ever
1. What has the university done over the past two years to address the crisis in student mental health?
“Students at the University of Bristol tell us that they are experiencing higher levels of anxiety than ever before. They want us to respond effectively, and we know that there is nothing more important than the health and wellbeing of our students. We have put a lot of support in place and are pleased that Bristol was one of the first universities to receive the University Mental Health Charter Award in December 2022, but we know we need to be constantly vigilant.
“We take a whole university approach, working closely with our Students’ Union and our broader student body to create the right environment for students to thrive, including the provision of the very best mental health and wellbeing services we can. Recent additions include changes across all services to make support more timely, including more appointments being made available. We’ve also been working in partnership with the NHS, Bristol City Council and UWE to develop a shared student liaison service which is NHS-led service and will provide support to students from both universities.”
Welch with students on the Downs at the University of Bristol freshers fair – photo: University of Bristol
2. What measures are you putting in place to compensate students for strikes and marking boycotts?
“I would like to apologise once again to all those students who experienced disruption caused by last year’s industrial action and the marking and assessment boycott. Thankfully, we managed to ensure that everyone graduated and received the marks they were expected to obtain but I know how stressful the delay was for those who were affected. Last summer we reached an agreement with our Joint Trade Unions that set the basis for local discussions about the structure of our salary and grading system at the University.
“Negotiations are still underway but while these continue, our union colleagues will not be taking any action or balloting for action. Students were able to make a complaint about the impact that the industrial action had on them and, where appropriate, payments were made to students based on how much they were affected. Payments were also made to students who had to wait to receive their degree classifications.”
3. Will Bristol University stop investing in big oil?
“The University of Bristol plays a key role in tackling environmental change through its research, its teaching and how it operates. Sustainability remains one of the central strands shaping the university’s vision of the future. We were the first university in the UK to declare a climate emergency in 2019, reaffirming our strong and positive commitment to take action on climate change and, a year later, in 2020 we completely divested from all investments in fossil fuel companies. We’re working towards becoming net zero by 2030 and continue to work with industry and other sectors using research to help reduce carbon emissions.”
4. Since arriving in Bristol, how have you enjoyed exploring your new city?
“I walk everywhere in Bristol, from Leigh Woods down to Sweet Mart in Easton and beyond. I also love taking the ferry and travelling by boat in the harbour and beyond. The city’s architecture looks so different from the water. I am getting to know Bristol’s cultural life with visits to such an interesting range of museums and galleries, theatres and, with the re-opening of the Bristol Beacon, concert halls. My husband’s birthday present will be a trip to the Beacon for the Pink Floyd tribute band performance in November!”
The historian says she enjoys exploring Bristol on foot, from the SS Great Britain to Sweet Mart in East – photo: Evelyn Welch
5. What role do you see for Bristol Uni convincing its graduates to stay and work in Bristol after graduating?
“We don’t need to work very hard to convince our graduates to stay in Bristol. They fall in love with the city and very much want to stay. We support them to find work or internships while they are still students, so they are well-prepared for the job market when they graduate. We also help them create their own companies and products. University students also stay on working for the NHS, NGOs, charities and local services.”
6. Are you actually Florence and the Machine’s mum?
“Yes.”
7. How will Bristol’s grassroots youth organisations be directly involved with the £10m reparation future fund?
“The University of Bristol is pledging £10m over the next decade to develop a programme that will address racial injustice and inequalities both within the university itself and in the local communities we work with. This will also include presenting the institution’s founders’ historic links to enslavement in a proper context. Reparative Futures will build on some of the significant initiatives that are ongoing, and that we have already invested in over the last few years, such as the Black Bristol Scholarships Programme. In addition, we will create a community fund for proposals from local groups, of all ages and backgrounds, to work with us on collaborative education and research initiatives that tackle educational, health, and economic inequalities.”
8. Your students have condemned forced swim tests on the basis of its cruelty to animals. When will it stop?
“I recognise there are differing views about the use of animals in research, including concerns around whether it is ethical. I know first-hand how strongly people feel about this, especially the use of forced swimming. The University of Bristol has a successful track record of translating scientific discoveries into real-world advances. Wherever possible we rely on non-animal methods. When these are not suitable to address the scientific gaps, and therefore only when absolutely necessary, we use animals in research to improve our understanding of health and disease in both humans and animals. This includes cardiovascular and cancer research, diseases associated with infection and immunity and, in the case of forced swimming, significant advances in the understanding of stress-related disorders.”
9. Is increasing student numbers by eight per cent per year sustainable for Bristol’s population, communities and housing availability?
“Accommodation is a growing challenge in popular cities like Bristol and we are very conscious of the importance of a sustainable relationship between the city and the university. But while the general population of Bristol is growing, students only form part of this increase. Between 2021-22 and 2022-23, our full-time student population grew by 1.8 per cent, although we saw a temporary higher rate during the Covid-impacted years due to the use of Teacher Assessed Grades for admission.”
“Looking ahead, we are planning for a steady and modest increase in student numbers, including from the local area. This isn’t about growing for the sake of it. Universities are operating in an increasingly challenging financial environment. While Bristol’s universities contribute more than £1.6bn a year to the local economy (and are two of the biggest employers in the region), public investment and charity funding for higher education has been steadily declining. Coupled with high inflation, tuition fees no longer come close to covering the cost of educating and supporting students. In response, growing student numbers is the only viable option available to most UK universities. We’ve been working hard with the council to implement a plan for new purpose-built student accommodation to increase supply in parts of the city where student investment is beneficial to the local community.”
10. Why has UoB stopped dealing with complaints about student waste and recycling mismanagement? This is a big issue for residents who have to live with bags of rubbish, wheelie bins, recycling boxes, litter and food waste left outside student houses.
“The university is committed to being a good neighbour and encouraging high standards of conduct by all members of its community. We expect our students to be respectful of their neighbours and understanding of their right to a peaceful and tidy home environment. We haven’t stopped responding to complaints about student waste and recycling mismanagement. Our Community Liaison team continues to educate, engage, and progress disciplinary action on students where there are reasonable grounds for doing so. We also work closely with Bristol Waste and the Council’s Neighbourhood Enforcement Team.”
All of these questions were submitted by Bristol24/7 readers. Next in the 10 Questions hot seat will be Damien Egan. Email your questions to ed-team@bristol247.com.
Main photo: University of Bristol
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