• Make a contribution
  • Get the Print Edition
  • Sign up for our daily newsletter
Thursday, May 8, 2025
  • Login
Reading Today Online
  • HOME
  • YOUR AREA
    • All
    • Caversham
    • Central Reading
    • East Reading
    • Katesgrove
    • Reading
    • Southcote & Coley
    • Tilehurst & Norcot
    • Whitley

    Are You Listening? Festival returns to Reading this weekend

    Two Reading choirs will join forces to sing for charity

    Tributes paid as League of Friends president passes away

    Inspiring young writers

    Rep’s Three Hens in a Boat: A raucous romp along the Thames that doesn’t shy away from introspection

    Uni of Reading: Stripes shown to help public understanding of climate crisis, study shows

    Trump’s proposed film tariffs in the US could threaten British industry at ‘critical’ moment

    Thames Valley ranks fifth highest area in UK for car thefts, figures show

    Study finds Reading fifth most intelligent town or city in England

  • COMMUNITY
  • READING FC
  • SPORT
    • All
    • Basketball
    • Football
    • Rugby

    Burghfield FC Ladies first-team and Reserves complete spectacular unbeaten campaigns

    Berkshire-Born Athlete Joel Armotrading signs Major Basketball NCAA Division 1 Contract with University of Nevada, Reno

    Reading FC removed from EFL embargo list after publishing 2023/24 accounts

    Dave Tarpey promoted to assistant manager at Reading City FC

    Reading FC stars confirmed for Purple Turtle event

    Ruben Selles speaks on Rob Couhig’s Reading FC takeover

    Former Reading FC star to become free agent following Championship relegation

    Tyler Bindon wins Reading FC Player of the Season vote

    Reading 2-4 Barnsley: Royals miss out on final League One play-off spot on final day

  • ENTERTAINMENT
    • ARTS
    • READING FESTIVAL
    • READING PRIDE
    • WOKINGHAM FESTIVAL
  • PRIDE OF READING
  • OBITUARIES
  • JOBS
  • ADVERTISE
  • CONTACT US
No Result
View All Result
Reading Today Online
No Result
View All Result
Home Featured

FROM THE VICE-CHANCELLOR: Seasonal celebrations, children’s lecture, and a chance to reflect at the turn of the year

Guest Contributor by Guest Contributor
Thursday, December 1, 2022 6:03 am
in Featured, Opinion
A A
Reading Santa Run on Sunday.

The 5k Santa Run makes it's way through town.

Reading Santa Run on Sunday. The 5k Santa Run makes it's way through town.

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

By Professor Robert Van de Noort

As we approach the end of another year, it is good to celebrate our successes with each other.

Looking back over the past 12 months at the University, 2022 has been a good year by many measures. More final year students have told us they are happy with their experiences on campus in the National Student Survey. We’ve seen more of our research being judged as world-leading or internationally excellent, and after the uncertainties of recent years we have welcomed a good number of first-year undergraduate students this September. And Reading reached the final of University Challenge, coming within touching distance of victory.

We’ve announced exciting collaborations with Reading FC and Reading Buses using our climate stripes, to raise awareness of the fight against climate change, and we are working with STEM Learning to improve climate education in schools and colleges across the country. The Natural History Museum announced that it will open a major new research facility at the University’s Thames Valley Science Park, next to the British Museum’s Archaeological Research Collection, creating opportunities for our students and researchers.

These are achievements of the whole University community, a group of more than 20,000 students and staff. I am proud and grateful to all of them, and hope they take time to celebrate these collective achievements as we go into the festive period.

Of course, our mission to make a difference in the world continues 365 days a year. That means working to support each other through good times and bad, and the challenges the world faces – as well as the challenges we can all face as individuals – can seem daunting. But that’s why I love our community at the University, and the wider community in Reading and Wokingham. We show each other that we care, and that we are acting not for ourselves, but for the common good.

Related posts

Ruben Selles heaps praise on “exceptional” Sam Smith after scoring winner

READING 1-0 ROVERS: Smith goal fuels a win for Royals against ‘The Gas’

What is Mediation?

Almost 49,000 people waited more than four hours to be seen at RBH’s A&E department – politicians call for action

That community comes to the fore at Christmas. We have some fantastic events on campus in the run up to Christmas that are open to everyone.

The Winter Festival takes place on our Whiteknights campus from 5.30pm this evening (Thursday 1 December). Come along for carols, festive treats, an arts and crafts market and our famous food market.

On Monday 5 December a carol service will be held in the students’ union with traditional carols, readings and musical performances. The service will also include an opportunity to donate to local and international charities.

The following Sunday, 11 December, we are hosting this year’s Reading Rotary Santa Run, a great event which will raise some much-needed funds for two local charities.

Excitingly, on Tuesday 20 December, our Children’s Christmas Lecture is back. This year, Professor Adrian Bell, an expert in the history of money and finance, will be explaining everything there is to know about money. I apologise if it leads to your children and grandchildren requesting an inflation-busting increase in pocket money.

All events, apart from the charity Santa Run, are free of charge, although booking for some events is required. Head to the Events page on our University website for more information, as well as to find out about other University events that might be of interest.

I for one am looking forward to the opportunity to come together with staff, students and local residents to celebrate past achievements, enjoy being together again and looking ahead to the promise of the coming year.

Professor Robert Van de Noort is the vice-chancellor of the University of Reading

Keep up to date by signing up for our daily newsletter

We don’t spam we only send our newsletter to people who have requested it.

Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.

Tags: From the vice-chancellorOpinionrdgukreading newsreading uk
Previous Post

VOLUNTEER CORNER: As seen in Reading Today, November 30, 2022

Next Post

All that Glistens will be a fun festive family show for babies, coming to Reading’s South Street

FOLLOW US

POPULAR STORIES

  • Reading FC takeover: Latest developments as club nears new EFL deadline for sale completion

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Young man and woman attacked by group of teenagers in Reading robbery

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Former Reading FC star to be released as free agent by Championship club

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Former Reading FC star to become free agent following Championship relegation

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Thousands experience power outage in Reading, not expected to be fixed for hours

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0

RDG.Today – which is a Social Enterprise – provides Reading Borough with free, independent news coverage.

If you are able, please support our work

Click Here to Support RDG.Today

ABOUT US

Reading Today is dedicated to providing news online across the whole of the Borough of Reading. It is a Social Enterprise, existing to support the various communities in Reading Borough.

CONTACT US

news@wokinghampaper.co.uk

Reading Today Logo

Keep up to date with our daily newsletter

We don’t spam we only send our newsletter to people that have subscribed

Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.

The Wokingham Paper Ltd publications are regulated by IPSO – the Independent Press Standards Organisation.
If you have a complaint about a  The Wokingham Paper Ltd  publication in print or online, you should, in the first instance, contact the publication concerned, email: editor@wokingham.today, or telephone: 0118 327 2662. If it is not resolved to your satisfaction, you should contact IPSO by telephone: 0300 123 2220, or visit its website: www.ipso.co.uk. Members of the public are welcome to contact IPSO at any time if they are not sure how to proceed, or need advice on how to frame a complaint.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • HOME
  • MY AREA
    • Central Reading
    • East Reading
    • Bracknell
    • Calcot
    • Caversham
    • Crowthorne
    • Earley
  • COMMUNITY
  • SPORT
    • Reading FC
    • Football
    • Rugby
    • Basketball
  • ENTERTAINMENT
    • ARTS
    • READING FESTIVAL
    • READING PRIDE
    • WOKINGHAM FESTIVAL
  • PRIDE OF READING
  • OBITUARIES
  • JOBS
  • ADVERTISE
  • CONTACT US
  • SUPPORT US
  • SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER
  • WHERE TO GET THE PRINT EDITION

© 2021 - The Wokingham Paper Ltd - All Right Reserved.