Summary notes of the Executive Committee held on 15 December 2004
- Director of IT
The Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research) had agreed to assume
responsibility for management and oversight of UKOLN. This had been
discussed with the Director of UKOLN, who was happy with the arrangement.
The Vice-Chancellor reiterated her appreciation of the contribution
made to the University by the Director of IT during his period of
office.
- Higher Education Funding 2005-06 to 2007-08: Grant
letter from the Secretary of State for Education and Skills to the HEFCE
The Vice-Chancellor highlighted the key points of
this letter:
- Government expenditure on HE would increase by over
£2 billion between 2004/05 and 2007/08, taking total investment
to over £9.5 billion. This represented an increase of some 11
percent in real terms.
- Recurrent funding for research would increase by 30
percent over the same period, from £1.3 billion to £1.7
billion.
- Recurrent funding for teaching would increase by a total
of £672 million, permitting a year-on-year increase in funded
student places (33,000, 25,000 and 24,000 staggered over the three-year
period), whilst maintaining the unit of resource in real terms. The
statement that the HEFCE should "…fund more foundation degrees,
while striking a balance between the development of lifelong learning
networks and the need for higher education places of individual regions…"
indicated that projects which aimed to expand HE provision in a number
of regions were being given serious consideration by government. At
the same time, significant concern had been registered about the growth
in unfunded student places; it was made clear that any over-recruitment
could result in transfer of elements of the HEFCE grant back to the
DfES, in order to meet the additional student support costs.
For the sector as a whole, the grant letter appeared
to set a framework of growth with a strong regional imperative in geographical
areas of under-provision, whilst maintaining the unit of resource. As
far as the University was concerned, the growth in funded places might
help to cover the costs of the 300 places that were currently being
supported on an unfunded basis, and should enable the embedding of lifelong
learning networks in Swindon. In terms of research, an increase in QR
funding might help to compensate for the deficit resulting from over-trading,
and possibly allow for some expansion of the RC portfolio.
- Administrative and Process Review
The Registrar reported that Southern Universities
Management Services (SUMS) were now drawing up the terms of reference
for a process review that would consider student record-keeping across
all departments. This would cover the full range of activity from
recruitment and admission, through to progression and final examination
and graduation. A presentation on the project, together with the general
services offered by SUMS, had been scheduled for the Heads of Department
meeting of 24 January 2005. Additional briefings would be arranged
for all those staff who were likely to be involved, and general information
on the underlying purpose of the project would be disseminated to
the wider University community.
- Child Protection Policy
The Director of Sports Development and Recreation
presented a draft policy that aimed to safeguard the welfare of all
children taking part in all activities organised under the auspices
of his department. Various guidelines and policies were in operation
at present, but these were largely of an ad hoc nature. It was now
thought that the large increase in the number of children participating
in activities resulting from the opening of the STV, together with
the changing legislative environment, necessitated the formulation
of a single, comprehensive policy for the Department of Sports Development
and Recreation (DSDR) as a whole. The draft put forward sought to
do this on the basis of a number of key principles, namely that:
- The welfare of the child was paramount (where
a child is defined as a person aged under 18 years, in accordance with
The Children Act 1989);
- All children, whatever their age, culture, disability,
gender, language, racial origin, religious beliefs and/or sexual identity
had the right to protection from abuse;
- All suspicions and allegations of abuse would
be taken seriously, with a swift and appropriate response;
- All persons working in the DSDR had a responsibility
to report concerns to their line manager or some other appropriate person.
The DSDR had consulted widely in preparation of
the draft policy, externally with national coaching and governing bodies
and internally with the Registrar's Office and Department of Human Resources.
The University Legal Advisor was reportedly content with the draft.
Subject to approval, the policy would be promulgated within the DSDR,
and form the basis of a rolling programme of education and training.
The Registrar believed that the draft policy had
addressed the specific issues faced by the DSDR in a comprehensive fashion
and provided a good starting point for wider consideration of similar
matters across the University. Parallel work was already underway to
consider the legal implications of the University regulation that permitted
the admission of students under the age of 18 years, and preliminary
discussions had taken place about the need for a more co-ordinated institutional
position on child protection, covering sport and the nursery, but also
extending to other activities, such as SU/ University widening participation
events.
Agreed:
(i) That the draft policy could be approved for immediate adoption and
implementation within the Department of Sports Development and Recreation.
(ii) That the Registrar would take forward formulation of a University
policy, to be informed by the DSDR policy.
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- Quarterly Updates
(a) Capital Projects
The Director of Estates highlighted the following
projects:
Projects currently on site
- 3 West North: Work was progressing well, with
handover scheduled for 30 April 2005
- 4 West: Asbestos removal and machine demolition
work was now at a critical stage, with completion date still fixed for
early May 2005. A design team for the replacement building had started
work on initial ideas for the redevelopment of the greater 4 West site.
- Project Capital Round 3 (DDA): This large package
of works, affecting both the residential and non-residential estate,
was intended to improve access for the disabled. Particular attention
would be paid to signage across the campus, which was generally regarded
as poor. The Estates Department was working with the Department of Marketing
and Communications to produce a signage template and manual. Allies
and Morrison would be involved in this as well.
- Sports Training Café: Design work had been
completed and the project had gone out to tender with a budget of up
to £343,000 (including VAT).
- 5 West Level 1: A design team were working on
a study to consider the feasibility of refurbishing and extending this
facility. Their report was almost complete and would inform subsequent
investment decision-making.
The Committee noted the report.
The Vice-Chancellor inquired whether project contingencies
had been set at levels that were sufficient to satisfy the strong policy
steer recently provided by the Buildings Committee. The Director of
Estates confirmed that this was so, stating that contingencies of 10
percent and 5 percent had been set for the 4 West and Project Capital
Round 3 schemes, respectively.
(b) Research and Innovation Services (RIS)
The Director of Research and Innovation Services
highlighted the following points:
- RIS was formed on 1 August 2004 by bringing together
existing services in Knowledge Transfer Services and the Grants and
Contracts Unit, together with a remodelled version of Faculty Research
and Business Development activity.
- Research and Innovation Development: A Research
and Innovation Manager had been appointed for the Faculty of Humanities
and Social Sciences; similar appointments would be made in the New Year
in respect of Life Sciences and Health and Engineering and Physical
Sciences.
- Research Support Unit (formerly the Grants and
Contracts Unit): This continued to be lined-managed by the Director
of Finance, but improved links to RIS were being developed.
- Enterprise Education Development: Progress had
been made on a wide range of projects, including the first award from
the Enterprise Education Venture Fund.
- Knowledge Transfer Partnerships and Consultancy:
In addition to the continuation of existing projects and the development
of potential new projects, the Head of Knowledge Transfer Partnerships
and Consultancy was assuming a cross-institutional leadership role in
respect of the three HEIF2 partners. A Consultancy Support Manager was
to be recruited.
- IP and Commercialization: An expanded team led
by the Head of Intellectual Property Services was increasing legal support
for a growing portfolio of IP exploitation projects, including 2 or
3 incipient spin-offs.
- Innovation Centres: Given that Carpenter House
was fully occupied and the Swindon Innovation Centre 60 percent occupied,
the emphasis was now on the acceleration of development of young enterprises
and the encouragement of greater interaction with the academic expertise
of the University.
- Marketing and Networks: A number of projects were
underway, including a review of the InterACTIVE Network, regional promotion
of University expertise in the engineering and environmental sectors,
SWRDA-funded project support for an Inspire SW Aerospace Panel, development
of a RIS website, and implementation of an RIS communications plan.
- These activities were underpinned by an extensive
range of performance measures and targets.
The Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research) commented that
he chaired the Research and Innovation Services Steering Group. In view
of the increasing scale of RIS operations, the Vice-Chancellor suggested
that some thought be given to expanding this Group, possibly to include
external representation.
- Arts Committee: proposal for one additrional member
Agreed: That, in order to
strengthened links between the two bodies, the membership of the Arts
Committee should be amended to convert the co-opted position of Senior
Common Room (Works of Art Liaison) representative into an ex-officio
position.
- Oakfield Executive Group: Membership and Terms of Reference
Agreed: That the membership
and terms of reference presented to the Executive Committee could
be approved.
- The following items were received without comment:
Notes of the Faculty of Engineering and Design
Executive Committee
(a) 22 June 2004
(b) 28 September 2004
(c) 26 October 2004
Notes of the Faculty of Science Executive: 2 November
2004
Notes of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Science
Heads of Department Committee: 15 November 2004
Notes of the University Research Committee
(a) 27 September 2004
(b) 3 November 2004
(c) 1 December 2004
Notes of the Student Experience and Strategy Committee:
1 November 2004
Notes of the Oakfield Executive Group: 24 November 2004
Notes of the Arts Committee: 16 November 2004
Notes of the Transport Strategy Consultative Working
Group: 22 July 2004
Notes of the Transparent Approach to Costing Steering
Group
(a) 17 August 2004
(b) 13 September 2004
(c) 18 October 2004
Notes of the Integrated Institute for Industrial
Integration Group
(a) 19 August 2004
(b) 10 September 2004
(c) 6 October 2004
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