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There’s probably never a perfect time to start a new job, but just weeks before a global pandemic starts, it’s far from ideal, writes Julia Bennell.

“/>Professor Julia Bennell, Executive Dean of Leeds University Business School

In January 2020, I assumed the office of Executive Dean of Leeds University Business School and was ready to lead one of the best business and management institutes in the country.

I wanted to do a full strategic review of the school, but by March I was busy managing the daily continuity of our activities while protecting staff and students from Covid-19.

As the New Year begins, the challenges and uncertainties remain and the national lockdown is extremely challenging. But with the introduction of Covid-19 vaccines, the way to a kind of normalcy is in sight in my opinion. For us, this means continuing to provide inspiring learning and teaching to students and doing world-class research on the big issues.

Despite the challenges, we pushed ahead with the strategic review. An important pillar will be how we can further expand our position as an international business school that is firmly anchored in the city of Leeds. This is about bringing the world to Leeds – and Leeds to the world.

The school has a global perspective and reach – we have more than 5,000 students from nearly 100 countries and our staff come from many nationalities. We work with other universities around the world to support education and research – but we have a strong sense of place and stay true to our Yorkshire roots. We take our civic duty seriously, which means entering into meaningful, lasting partnerships with companies in the region and supporting growth.

There are strong foundations to build on. We already support the local economy in a number of ways: Hundreds of very bright students (our standard bachelor’s degree is AAA at A level) come to Leeds every fall for an excellent education. In an average year, around a third of the students complete a paid internship in industry during their studies. This is a great way for a company to work with a talented student and for college students to learn on the coal front and see what life could be like after university. We are always looking for more employers and want to keep the talent we have nurtured in the local economy. There is a fantastic opportunity for local employers to do more with our graduates. I see that this works both ways – we need to connect more closely with businesses and organizations in the region.

At a time of global change, two trends stand out in higher education. First, when people switch careers more frequently during their working lives, they look to universities to help them learn and develop, and second, to promote digital learning. The business school is responding to these trends and can make a big difference in regional productivity by ensuring that local employees have the skills to thrive in today’s rapidly changing environment. After all, you are never too old to learn anything.

The University of Leeds is a research-intensive university, which means research is in our DNA. As a business school, our research can provide insights and solutions to support the Yorkshire business community. We have been ranked in the top ten business and management schools in the country based on research strength – quality and impact of our research. I want to bridge the gap between science and the practical application of our research. There are several ways that companies can work with us, from supporting large research projects to providing direct advice.

Our research is as broad as it is deep. It covers supply chain management, data analysis and public infrastructure spending, as well as innovations, green marketing strategies and how Covid-19 is changing the world around us. One of our flagship programs is the Digital Futures at Work Research Center (Dig.IT) – a £ 4.5 million research project in partnership with Sussex Business School to understand how digital technologies are transforming the world of work.

Many of us are looking forward to the end of 2020 and I am looking forward to the Business School doing its part to get the region’s economy going again. Replacing face masks and hand sanitizer for graduation dresses and mortar boards is the perfect way to get started.