Financial Statements 2009-10 2 Annual Review and Financial Statements 2009-10
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Annual Review and Financial Statements 2009-10 2 Annual Review and Financial Statements 2009-10 Contents Annual Review Vice-Chancellor’s introduction 3 Building our future 4 Enriching the experience 5 Research awards 2009-10 6 Research impact 7 Public benefit 8-9 Financial Statements 2009-10 Chair’s Report 10 Financial Highlights 11 Operating and Financial Review 12-20 Corporate Governance Statement 21-23 Independent Auditors’ Report to the Members of Council 24-25 Accounting Policies 26-28 Consolidated Income and Expenditure Account 29 Consolidated Statement of Total Recognised Gains and Losses 30 Balance Sheet 31 Consolidated Cash Flow Statement 32 Notes to the Financial Statements 33-51 Five-Year Summary of Financial Position 52 Information round-up Honorary Graduates 53 Statistics 54 Acknowledgements 55 Principal officers of the University Chancellor Pro-Chancellor and Chair of Council Treasurer Lord Phillips of Sudbury OBE Bill Gore BSc MSc ACA Celia Edey JP DL Pro-Chancellor Vice-Chancellor Registrar and Secretary Auriol Stevens BA Professor Colin Riordan BA PhD Dr Tony Rich BA PGCE PhD Pro-Chancellor Deputy Vice-Chancellor Librarian David Boyle MA JP DL Professor Rob Massara BA PhD CEng FIEE Robert Butler BSc MSc SMIEEE Annual Review 2009-10 3 Vice-Chancellor’s introduction We are continuing to achieve significant Record numbers of students began courses at Although this has been an excellent year we success at Essex despite the many challenges the University this year, while the National do find ourselves in a time of dramatic and now facing the UK’s higher education sector. Student Survey ranked Essex in the top 20 radical change in the landscape of higher In 2009-10 we saw excellent performances in nationally, a significant improvement from education. We will need to deal with a very student recruitment, research income and our 34th last year. In addition, the University was different dynamic in terms of home and overall financial position as our local, regional placed in the top 15 for best all-round student European Union student recruitment, and will and international impact continued to grow. experience according to the Times Higher need a tight focus on the quality of student Education (THE) survey. experience. We will need to develop our Effective management and the hard work of international activities further, and deal with colleagues on all sides of the University have Major projects completed as part of our £200 potential changes to the student visa system. helped achieve our best financial results for million-plus capital investment plan include many years. We are exceeding many of our the £5 million Teaching Centre and £1.4 I am confident that the University of Essex is key strategic targets, with total income rising million Sports Centre redevelopment at the well-placed to deal with these challenges. We to £139 million in 2009-10, an increase of 13 Colchester campus, as well as the £36 million have the necessary resolve and vision, per cent. University Square student accommodation complemented by an excellent staff, a strong and a new teaching suite at the Southend academic focus and well-functioning A record level of research income was won for Campus. management systems. As ever in our almost the third consecutive year with grants and 50-year history we will adapt to the new contracts rising 16 per cent to £21.1 million Work on the infrastructure for the Knowledge circumstances and will, I am sure, emerge from £18.2 million in the previous year. Gateway development at the Colchester from the period of uncertainty stronger and Campus has begun. World-renowned architect more successful. Our international commitment to research and Essex alumnus Daniel Libeskind has excellence was boosted when Jawaharlal been selected to design the landmark building Professor Colin Riordan Nehru University in India became the first that will house the Institute for Democracy Vice-Chancellor member of our Global Alliance, which is and Conflict Resolution at the heart of the building lasting research-orientated Knowledge Gateway. partnerships with leading universities. In Southend we are working with partners on We have managed to square the circle of the £26.9 million Elmer Square regeneration increasing student numbers whilst project which will include a shared library plus simultaneously improving student satisfaction. new teaching and learning space. 4 Annual Review 2009-10 Building our future New facilities at the Colchester and Southend The University has an ambitious £200 million- campuses are helping to improve the learning plus investment programme. Construction has Transforming Southend Campus and living experiences for Essex students. started on the University’s major Knowledge Gateway development at Colchester to At Southend, the £36 million 561-room At Colchester, the new 2010-11 academic provide a new home for social scientific University Square development provides year got under way with the opening of the research and development and business colourful, modern residences with en-suite innovative £5 million Teaching Centre, space, with the infrastructure works due to be facilities to enhance the student experience. transforming the redundant 1960s central completed in Spring 2011. It will be anchored The vibrant new accommodation boiler house into 19 modern teaching rooms, by the flagship Institute for Democracy and incorporates many green and sustainable equipped with the latest teaching technology, Conflict Resolution, to be designed by world- features. Southend Campus has also been a theatre rehearsal space and spacious social renowned architect and Essex alumnus Daniel enhanced by the development of the area. Libeskind. £700,000 Elmer Suite, providing additional professional teaching and learning space for The University’s commitment to providing Work will also begin in 2011 on the £10 students. state-of-the-art facilities is also evident in the million transformation of the historic Wivenhoe new internet cafe Zest, with adjoining IT pods House into the UK’s first fully-functioning Architects have been appointed to develop for group working, and the new £1.4 million country house hotel to be run and staffed by Elmer Square, a £26.9 million joint venture gym and fitness suite. The new sports students, supervised by industry professionals. with Southend-on-Sea Borough Council and facilities provide more than 130 fitness Designed to prepare the future leaders of the South Essex College to provide an stations and new studios for activities such as hospitality industry, the Edge Hotel School will integrated academic and community library aerobics, dance and yoga. open in 2012. and modern teaching facilities. Annual Review 2009-10 5 Enriching the experience Ensuring students graduate with a high quality A major initiative to encourage students to qualification and are equipped for future develop the skills future employers are looking challenges is a key focus at Essex. for and get the most out of their time at Essex was launched in 2009-10. The Big e The University was ranked 16th for student campaign is using workshops, lectures and satisfaction in this year’s National Student special events including the Essex Apprentice, Survey with 88 per cent of Essex students the Big e awards and Essex Business Boot saying they were satisfied with their course. Camp to inspire students, build-up their skills This is up three per cent on last year and is and recognise their achievements. five per cent above the national average. Enterprising students also competed against The Departments of Art History and other university teams in The Prince’s Trust Philosophy and the Centre for Psychoanalytic fundraising challenge, Million Makers. Team Studies all achieved 100 per cent satisfaction Essex came second nationally and raised over ratings and Essex is ranked in the top 10 for a £1,800 through a number of fundraising number of science, social science and activities. humanities subjects. Essex students have always made a valuable This year’s academic highlights included a contribution through volunteering and this year two-week residency by Nobel Laureate and marked the 40th anniversary of Nightline – a Essex’s new Professor of Poetry Derek confidential listening and advice service run by Walcott with students taking part in a series of students and pioneered at the University. workshops with the celebrated writer. Student Established in 1970 by students with the Pete Fitzgerald said: ‘It was a privilege and an support of staff, Essex Nightline has inspired honour to be taught by Professor Walcott.’ many others across the country and beyond. Branches have been set up in the United States, Canada, Switzerland and Germany, in many cases by former Essex students. 6 Annual Review 2009-10 Research awards 2009-10 This has been a record year for generating Uncovering cultural links between research income across the University with Brazil and Angola £21.1 million worth of grants and contracts Project title: The Angolan roots of capoeira secured by staff in 2009-10. A full list of Grant: £367,846 research grants can be found on the Funding body: Arts and Humanities Research Research and Enterprise Office website at: Council www.essex.ac.uk/reo. Duration: Three years The influence of Angola on the celebrated Some highlights include: Afro-Brazilian art form of capoeira is being Changing nature of consumerism investigated by Dr Matthias Röhrig Assunção from the Department of History. Dr Assunção Project title: Consumption work and societal is leading a multi-disciplinary team including divisions of labour film maker Richard Pakleppa, Angolan history Grant: £648,349 specialist Dr Mariana Candido from Princeton Funding body: European Research Council University and Mestre Cobra Mansa, founder Duration: Three years and president of the International Foundation The changing nature of work, the division of of Capoeira Angola. labour and the way consumers buy, use, re-use and even dispose of goods is being researched by Professor Miriam Glucksmann Note: Grant awards are spread across a from the Department of Sociology.