Summary notes of the Executive Committee held on 8 September 2004
- Report on Higher Education Regional Development Association-South
West Strategy Board meeting of 7 September 2004
A Shadow Science and Industry Council had been established
under the aegis of the SWRDA - for the purpose of building stronger
relationships between businesses and researchers, and developing a
common strategy for science and technology in the region. Regional
HEIs would be represented by two Vice-Chancellors: Professor Eric
Thomas from Bristol and Professor Gillian Slater from Bournemouth;
HERDA-SW would also seek to contribute to the work of the Council
through its Executive Committee and Research Special Interest Group.
- Funding the Future: A Conservative Policy for Universities
and Students
The Conservative Party was expected to publish later
today its alternative policy on student finance, and related aspects
of University funding. Mr Christopher Graying MP, shadow minister
for higher education, had telephoned the Vice-Chancellor yesterday
to give her a preliminary briefing. The essential elements of the
policy appeared to be as follows:
- An unequivocal commitment to abolish tuition fees
- The introduction of a loans system that would
allow students to borrow larger amounts without means testing, but repayment
of which would be subject to a commercial rate of interest.
- The creation of an independent Students Loan Trust
to provide the loans, and to take over the entire existing student loan
book.
- The channelling of surpluses from the Students
Loan Trust to pay for additional capital investment and to create endowment
funds.
- The replacement of the HEFCE T-grant by National
Scholarships, so that funding 'followed' the student.
- The abolition of the 50 percent participation
target and the Access Regulator, and the rationalisation of the HEFCE.
Mr Grayling had been unable to say what participation
rate would be assumed by the policy, or to elaborate on the policy's
potential impact on longer undergraduate courses, of the kind that were
common at the University of Bath.
The Vice-Chancellor said it was vital for the University
to work through the implications of the policy, as had been done in
respect of the Government's policy on variable tuition fees
- Development Audit Report
The Director of Marketing and Communications had commissioned
this report of fund-raising and 'friend-raising' activity within the
University following a preliminary internal review and discussions
with the Vice-Chancellor. A number of recommendations were put forward
with the aim of revitalizing this activity:
- Establishment of a Development Planning Group,
chaired by the Vice-Chancellor, and drawing on the expertise of Lay
Members of Council, to determine institutional priorities for fund-raising,
particularly with regard to philanthropic and major gifts.
- Restarting the Annual Fund telephone campaign
and donor stewardship programmes. This would be contingent on the post
of Development Officer (Annual Fund) being refilled by January 2005,
and a review of the financial and other procedures associated with donations.
- Researching and cultivating philanthropic and
corporate sources of funds, matching the priorities of donors with those
of the University.
The Committee believed that the embedding of fund-raising
within the culture of the University required as much, if not more,
attention as organisational matters. Fund-raising had to be become part
of a more general income-generating culture, pervading the University
at all levels, academic and administrative. The Committee noted that
it would be helpful to provide some staff development to help staff
identify and cultivate fund-raising opportunities when dealing with
contractors etc.
Agreed:
(i) That the recommendations outlined could be approved. The Director
of Marketing and Communications would consider how best the new strategy
could be communicated to the wider University community.
(ii) That the Strategic Planning Group should delineate priorities for
fund-raising (to be refined subsequently by the new Development Planning
Group), as part of a broader incentive structure that sought to encourage
income-generation across the University. A report on this work would
be submitted to the Committee.
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