In my last newsletter of 2025: major investment in our sports ecosystem, our first-ever Giving Day, how we’re supporting staff and students to use AI responsibly, and our winter Graduation ceremonies.

Investment to reinforce our world-leading position in sport

Our University is renowned for its sporting ecosystem – the global success of our athletes and teams, our world-leading research and innovation that underpins those headline-hitting performances, the opportunities we provide to participate at every level, and the first-class facilities based on our campus. 

If we are to retain our position in world sport, we must continue to push the boundaries of innovation and provide facilities that support athletes’ ongoing needs. So I was delighted last week to welcome athletes, influential sport leaders and iconic figures from across the world of sport, including Dame Denise Lewis DBE, former Olympic gold medal athlete and President of UK Athletics, to celebrate a major £5.5 million investment in our sporting ecosystem. 

The funding – from the Government, UK Sport, multiple national governing bodies and the University – has enabled enhancements in several facilities.  

We have created a high-performance training environment in the Netball Centre, to provide a base for England Netball, the Vitality Roses and our own athletes. Enhancements in the High-Performance Athletics Centre (HiPAC) – made in partnership with UK Athletics, UK Sport and the UK Sports Institute – include a running analysis system and transformed medical and treatment areas. A £2 million Government grant has allowed the swimming pool to be fully decarbonised and funding from UK Sport has enabled further enhancements to support elite performance training at the facility.  

We have also transformed the entrance to the Sir David Wallace Sports Hall to showcase the University’s rich sporting history. All our graduands, their families and friends passed through the area on their way to the graduation ceremonies this month, and we received lots of positive feedback from them about the new-look space.  If we are to continue being the partner of choice for a broad range of sports, it is essential that we stay ahead and continue to innovate to meet world class standards and the requirements of all those who use our facilities.

University hosts first ever Giving Day

At the start of the month we hosted our first ever Giving Day, which was an opportunity for alumni, staff and friends of the University to help us change lives by donating to four Loughborough causes.  

Thanks to them, we raised more than £90,000 – an incredible achievement. This will help to support projects across all our priority areas of education, research and sport. Funding will go towards our Opportunity Scholarships for students from areas of low participation in higher education, our Digital Decarbonisation research, our Sports Scholarships, which support our student athletes as they embark on their path towards the global stage, or the Loughborough Fund to support those most in need. 

Giving Day was managed by the Philanthropy, Alumni and Supporter Engagement (PASE) team in Marketing and Advancement, with the support of others from across the University. Thank you to all those who lent their support to deliver this fundraising event.   I would also like to say thank you to the staff who generously donated money; your support will help us to make a real difference. And if you missed this year’s Giving Day and would like to make a donation, you can still do so via the Giving Day site.

Celebrating achievements at our winter graduation ceremonies

Our winter graduation ceremonies are a key event as we approach the end of each calendar year and, as always, it was wonderful to welcome hundreds of our students, their friends, families and supporters to campus to celebrate their academic achievements.  

At the congregations we awarded honorary degrees and University medals to recognise the work of individuals who have contributed so much to our University and society more broadly.  

An Honorary Doctorate of the University was awarded to James Chiutsi, President of the Malawi Paralympic Committee, who was recognised for his contribution to sport and his efforts in promoting equity, diversity and inclusivity in Para sport. We have worked closely with James through the AT2030 Para Sport Against Stigma project, delivered in partnership between Loughborough University London, the International Paralympic Committee, the University of Malawi and the Global Disability Innovation Hub. 

We also awarded an Honorary Doctorate of the University to Paul Sinton-Hewitt CBE, the founder of Parkrun, in acknowledgement of the impact he’s had on sport, health and wellbeing, aligned closely with our strategic theme. 

University medals were presented to three individuals: Professor Scott Lockyer, a Royal Academy of Engineering Visiting Professor in Advanced Materials; Eric MacIntyre, the former Head of Higher Education at Loughborough College and author of our book on the history of Loughborough sport; and Pauline King, a Senior Technician and Technical Tutor in the Department of Chemistry. 

Our degree ceremonies mean so much to those who attend, and I know that teams across the University work very hard to ensure that everyone has an enjoyable day. Thank you as always for everything you do to make these events so memorable.

Using AI responsibly

Artificial Intelligence, or AI, is now firmly embedded in society, with people everywhere debating both the benefits and risks. But AI isn’t a new concept. I’ve spent the last 35 years researching AI and we can trace its foundations back at least 70 years, when the British mathematician Alan Turing wrote a research paper asking whether machines can think. 

These days AI is genuinely starting to transform society in all kinds of ways – how we live, learn and work. Vipin Ahlawat, our Director of IT Services, and I recently joined forces to write a blog on how we can make best use of AI in a responsible way. 

Over the past year, we’ve been putting in place a strong framework to guide how we design, deploy and use AI tools. We have made Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat available to all staff and students, and established ethical guidance for learning and assessment to ensure transparency and fairness in how AI is used in coursework and exams. 

Understanding how to use AI responsibly is as important as the tools themselves and over the coming months, we’ll be helping staff and students to develop their AI literacy. Through practical sessions and guidance, we’ll explain, for example, when – and importantly when not – to use AI tools in learning and research, and how AI can help to save time, improve efficiency and spark your creativity. 

I know some of you will already be comfortable in using AI, while others may be more tentative. AI is changing how we work right now and I’d recommend you begin building it into your daily or weekly routine. Perhaps start small; use Copilot Chat to summarise a document or report or Firefly to generate a visual – I generated the image in this section of the newsletter using AI! 

I’d also recommend you look at the Responsible AI Guidance site we’ve put together, which offers advice, dos and don’ts, and links to useful training resources.  Over the coming years AI technology will continue to improve and we’ll find ever more creative ways to harness it to enhance the way we live, work and play. Let’s make sure we do so responsibly.

Royal Aeronautical Society award

The National Centre for Combustion and Aerothermal Technology has received a team medal from the Royal Aeronautical Society in recognition of its long-term partnership with Rolls-Royce.

Clean power hydrogen partnership

Our partnership with Clean Power Hydrogen plc will help to make hydrogen generation more efficient and cost-effective, using renewable energy to reduce reliance on fossil fuels. 

Season’s Greetings – and thank you

Thank you for everything that you have contributed to the University’s success over the last 12 months. Whatever you are doing while the University is closed, please enjoy the holiday, relax and take a break from work. I wish you a very Happy Christmas and look forward to seeing you in the new year