DOCSLIB.ORG

Court – Wednesday 15 February 2012 Principal's

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Court – Wednesday 15 February 2012 Principal's Court – Wednesday 15 February 2012 Principal’s Report Items A: For Discussion 1. Restructuring Review – action plan At its December meeting, Court received a report on the first year assessment of our Restructuring, which included input from staff surveys. Court heard that an action plan would be developed in early 2012 and that a further update would be provided to it at the February meeting. Court had particular concerns about the staff survey feedback on improvements to the decision making process and on communication above local level. The Senior Vice-Principal will speak about the action plan at the Court meeting. 2. Investment Priorities The VP (Strategy & Resources) prepared and presented a paper and associated spreadsheet to SMG which outlined the investment priorities discussed by budget holders during the preliminary budget meetings held in December 2011. The paper also recommended actions aimed at enabling the University to meet its objectives contained Glasgow 2020: a Global Vision. The paper was set within the context of a reasonably positive financial position. The SFC indicative grant letter for 2012-13, issued in December 2011, had enabled our forecasts to be updated with more accurate SFC income information. This had resulted in higher surpluses over the forecast period, increasing the T- Grant by £12.4m (more than forecast), the REG grant by £1.2m, and the PGR grant by £0.8m, both less than forecast. The net impact of these clarifications was an extra £3.4m of income in 2012-13 over the forecast produced in late November 2011. This together with the savings made against the University’s budget plan enabled the SMG to agree investment proposals in areas of strategic importance for immediate action. The areas identified for potential investment were: • Research leadership posts across all four Colleges • Fellowships across all four Colleges • Arts research themes (including digital humanities, cultural policy, etc) • Sensor Systems • Synthetic Biology • Polyomics and Bioinformatics • Research Institute in Public Policy • Max Planck Centre in Measurement and Observation at the Quantum Limit • REF Support, including web development. • Enhanced support for research leadership appointment (scholarships etc) • Continued investment in Business School • International Reputation and Student Recruitment • Alumni and Development 1 A detailed set of recommendations associated with these areas, along with investment costs and the person(s) responsible for taking them forward was included with the paper and the SMG agreed the proposals and action list. 4. Student Applications and Admissions Data from the 2012 Applications cycle show a strong increase in applications to Glasgow for both Undergraduate and Postgraduate qualifications. For Undergraduate applications, there has been a 15% growth in total numbers, and a 33% growth in international UG applications, compared to last year. Within these numbers there is a strong RUK performance, with Glasgow’s applications from RUK increasing by 11.4% compared to its competitors, where RUK applications have reduced by around 1.9%. A similar analysis, comparing applications from England only, shows Glasgow significantly growing its application base from England (21.6%), against applications to competitors, which have reduced by 1.1%. Work will take place over the next few months to convert RUK applications into firm acceptances; this will include electronic and printed communications about the University, opportunities to visit, and details of the Welcome Bursary, the Access Scholarship and tuition fee discount. These successes must in part be attributed to the University’s decision regarding fees for RUK, though strong results in the NSS, tariff adjustments, and recruitment activity by RIO and Colleges must also have had an impact. RUK applications to the School of Medicine however have fallen, and steps are being taken to analyse and respond to the reasons for this downturn. With regard to Postgraduate applications, there has been a 25% growth in total numbers (24% PGT and 30% PGR) compared to last year, with all Colleges showing significant year on year growth. Finally, there has been a 24% increase in international applications, with all categories showing growth: UG - 33% (increasing from 926 to 1,232) PGT - 24% (increasing from 8,365 to 10,359) PGR - 26% (increasing from 329 to 415) There were 7,034 PG international applications to the Business School, representing a 24% year on year growth and 65% of all international applications; and 7,723 applications from China, representing a 34% year on year growth and 72% of all PGT and PGR applicants. For Court’s information, the University has submitted its response to the recent UCAS Admissions Process Review Consultation, which recommended fundamental changes to admissions processes from 2016 with introduction of Post Qualification Admissions. Glasgow’s response, which is in line with the Russell Group position, is not supportive of the proposals as they stand. Items B: For Information 5. Key activities Below is a summary of some of the main activities I have been involved in since the last meeting of Court (14 December). As members will know, given my absence for a week or so in January, some of these events were covered by the Senior VP and other members of the Senior Management Group. I am grateful to them for stepping in at short notice. Such events included the Universities Scotland Main Committee in Dundee (17 January); the Jim Wight Lecture to launch the Vet School 150th celebrations; the General Council meeting on Saturday 21 January; the Holocaust Lecture delivered by Professor Nicholas Stragardt which attracted an audience of over 300 (24 January); a visit from Alistair Darling MP to hear about our Business School; a dinner for all VCs with Mike Russell prior to the publication of the report on Governance and a 2 service and dinner for the Moderator of the Church of Scotland (31 January). I was also represented at the launch of the Scottish Government's Cities Strategy in St.Andrews by the Deputy First Minister which we are supporting with a joint investment with St.Andrews University. I have divided the rest of this report into 4 themes: Academic Development and Strategy; Internationalisation activities; Lobbying/Policy Influencing and Promoting the University; Internal activities and Communications 5.1 Academic Development and Strategy On 12 January we welcomed Mr Luis Juste, Director of Santander Universities, and Mr Steve Pateman, Executive Director, Corporate Commercial & Business Banking Santander to the University for a Scholarship reception and an evening lecture. Santander Universities now has an impressive network of 900 Universities across 14 countries and supports a range of scholarships and Mobility Awards, and the University has 20 such awards running at the moment. The reception was an opportunity for Mr Juste to meet with our Santander Scholars and present them with a congratulatory certificate. Our current group of scholars represent 10 nations and cover a broad sweep of academic disciplines including languages, law, finance, business and management, literature, textile conservation, museum theory and practice, media management and geo information, technology & cartography. In the evening Mr Pateman, delivered a lecture entitled The Banking Crisis: hidden challenges to an audience of Business School colleagues and students and members of the business community. Building our international student community, our post graduate numbers and developing our relationship with the wider community are all parts of our strategic focus and this day and evening with Santander brought all these elements together in an encouraging and positive way. By the time Court meets on 15 February, we will have launched the University’s Space Research Cluster (13 February) and we are delighted that the Rt Honourable David Willetts MP has agreed to attend and mark this new and exciting initiative. 5.2 International Activities On 16 December, I travelled to Hong Kong to attend the University of Hong Kong Centenary Celebrations 17-18 December, 2011. I was able to combine this with Glasgow University business which included a special event and meetings aimed at strengthening our relationship with alumni and contacts who had expressed an interest in becoming more involved with the University. The key University event was held on the evening of 19th December in the British Council. It was described as a Hong Kong Panel Evening and Reception and included presentations and discussion on the topic World Economic Crisis and Global Solutions: A view from Europe and Asia. In addition to a presentation from me, we were delighted to have as our guest speaker, Dr Hongbin Qu (MPhil, 1990) Chief Economist for China, HSBC. This was followed by a panel discussion, Q&A session, featuring our special guest Professor Sir James Mirrlees, Nobel Laureate in Economic Sciences. It was an excellent event and allowed us to showcase Glasgow, and our expertise in business and financial areas, to our alumni, influencers, potential industrial, government and academic research collaborators in Hong Kong. Following the event the business contacts who attended were sent a copy of the Glasgow at a Glance brochure with a covering letter from me and it is intended that they will be invited to relevant University events in the future. In addition, the British Council and Corporate Communications invited a number of media outlets to attend the evening. This resulted in an interview with i-Money Magazine and the article was published on the 31 December. These outcomes and the opportunity I had to meet personally with one or two key supporters all added to the value of the trip – one certainly worth undertaking and which I am sure will bear fruit in due course. 5.3 Lobbying/Policy Influencing and Promoting the University On the 9th of January I had the pleasure of welcoming around 60 Fulbright Scholars from the USA to the University as part of their week’s visit to Scotland. This was a great opportunity to introduce these top flight PG students, many of whom will go on to be community and national leaders, to the University.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Court Minutes 2014-2015, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh
    Ct1 13 October 2014 COURT Minutes In the Chair: Lord Penrose Date of Meeting: 13 October 2014 Present also: Ms Tracey Ashworth-Davies Ms Shonaig Macpherson Ms Pamela Calabrese Mr Strone Macpherson Professor Steve Chapman Ms Jessie Nelmes Mr Allan Gray Ms Jane Queenan Ms Trish Gray Professor James Ritchie Dr Stephen Houston Mr David Robinson Professor Phillip John Professor Ian Wall Professor Julian Jones Officer in attendance: Ms Ann Marie Dalton Ms Sue Collier Mr Andrew Menzies Others in attendance: Ms Lorna Kirkwood-Smith (minutes) M14/1 APOLOGIES Apologies were received from: Dr Jock Clear, Councillor Ricky Henderson, Mr Iain McLaren, Mr Andrew Milligan, Ms Miranda Matoshi, Mr Tony Strachan and Professor Peter Woodward. M14/2 OBITUARIES (Paper Ct1/14/39) The Court learned with sadness of the reported death of Professor Sir Peter Hall on 30 July 2014. Professor Hall received an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Letters from the University in 2002 in recognition of his distinguished academic career and contribution to planning and public policy. M14/3 WELCOME The Chairman welcomed Mr Colin MacLean who was sitting in attendance at the October 2014 meeting of the Court and who had agreed to present the report of the Audit and Risk Committee to the Court. M14/4 MINUTES OF THE MEETINGS OF THE COURT HELD ON 23 JUNE AND 18 SEPTEMBER 2014 The Court approved the minutes of the meetings of the Court held on 23 June and 18 September 2014. M14/5 MATTERS ARISING 5.1 University and College Union (UCU) ballot on industrial action The Principal updated the Court on the UCU ballot of its members currently underway on industrial action over potential changes to the Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS).
    [Show full text]
  • University Council Membership
    Edith Cowan University University Council University Council Membership Chancellor (Member appointed by the Governor) The Hon Hendy Cowan AO Term of Office: 01/01/2014 – 31/12/2016 01/01/2011 – 31/12/2013 01/01/2008 – 31/12/2010 01/01/2005 – 31/12/2007 Hendy Cowan was elected to the Western Australian Parliament in 1974. He held the rural seat of Merredin-Yilgarn, later renamed Merredin, until he retired in 2001. He served as the Leader of the National Party for 23 years. In the period from 1993 to 2001, he was the State Deputy Premier, Minister for Commerce and Trade, Regional Development and Small Business. Since retirement, his principal interest is farming, although he has a small number of company directorships and is also active in not-for-profit organisations. He joined the board of the Cancer Council Western Australia in 2001 and was elected President in 2003. He retired from the presidency in 2008, but remains on the board. In 2003, Hendy was elected Western Australia’s representative on the board of the Cancer Council Australia (CCA) and in 2010 was elected President of the CCA for a three-year term. In 2004, Hendy was appointed to the Governing Council of Edith Cowan University and in 2005 he was appointed Chancellor. Hendy has two honorary doctorates, one from Edith Cowan University and the other from Murdoch University. He is a recipient of the Queen’s Jubilee Medal and in 2004 won the Governor’s Award for Regional Development in the Citizen of the Year Awards. In June 2014, Hendy was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia.
    [Show full text]
  • Report of the Review of Higher Education Governance in Scotland
    The Review of Higher Education Governance ___ Report of the Review of Higher Education Governance in Scotland Chaired by Professor Ferdinand von Prondzynski Submitted to The Scottish Ministers 16 January 2012 i Acknowledgements The review panel would like to acknowledge the support and assistance it received from a variety of sources, including all those who made submissions to it and who gave oral evidence. These contributions were invaluable to the panel in its deliberations. We also want to express our particular thanks to the officials who supported our work and who provided expert advice and facilities, in particular Neil MacLennan and Stephen O’Connor. We were exceptionally well served. Ferdinand von Prondzynski Terry Brotherstone Iain Macwhirter Robin Parker Alan Simpson ii Contents Acknowledgments Preface 1. Introduction 2. Role and Structure of HE Governance 2.1 Legal Framework 2.2 The Role of the Privy Council 2.3 A new statute 2.4 Academic Freedom and Institutional Autonomy 2.5 Role of Governance 2.6 Governance Framework 2.7 Senior Management 2.8 Advisory Forum 2.9 The Relationship with Further Education 3. Appointment and Remuneration of Principals 3.1 Appointment and Role 3.2 Remuneration 4. Role, Composition and Appointment of Governing Bodies 4.1 Chairs of Governing Bodies 4.2 Membership of Governing Bodies, including Co-Opted Members 4.3 The Committee Structure 4.4 Training 5. Role, Composition and Appointment of Academic Boards (or Senates) 5.1 Composition of Academic Boards and Appointment of Members 6. Role of Stakeholders 6.1 Staff 6.2 Governance and Student Associations / Unions 6.3 Wider Community 6.4 Industry and Business Community 7.
    [Show full text]
  • Final Report.Indd
    EDINBURGH BELTANE BEACON FOR PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT Introduction The Edinburgh Beltane Beacon for Public Engagement held an event on 15 June 2011, focussing on ‘Realising the Potential of Engaged Universities’. The event, part of the ‘Big Ideas for Society’ day of UK Universities Week 2011, brought together around 70 delegates to explore the concept of ‘an engaged university’. Many aspects of public engagement were discussed including the bene! ts engagement already brings to Scottish Universities and strategies to embed engagement within institutions, in line with their individual mission and priorities. Key learning from this forum was immediately transferred to a lunchtime brie! ng at the Scottish Parliament, attended by MSPs, researchers, Scottish Parliament corporate staff, and Principals and Vice Principals of Scotland’s Universities. Key Learning points > Scotland’s Universities are a force for positive social change. > If Public Engagement is a priority, it must be included in the staff development strategy - from recruitment to promotion prospects. > An interdisciplinary and cross-institutional approach to engagement has many bene! ts; there is a lot we can learn from each other. A public engagement ‘pool’ might help to achieve this. > Universities can offer practical help to politicians: academics can help to answer questions arising from MSPs’ surgeries or committee meetings; contribute to consultations and take part in policy debates. > Our students have a role to play too. Thousands of our students are active in volunteering, student societies and other projects which make valuable contributions to communities, both here in Scotland and internationally. > To build trust, we need to build relationships. We can’t wait until a crisis hits, we need to be transparent about the research that is happening, make an effort to correct misinformation, and listen to people’s concerns.
    [Show full text]
  • Annual Report
    Carnegie Universities Trust of Scotland Annual Report Annual Report One hundred and fifteenth Annual Report, for the year to 30 September 2016 i Carnegie Universities Trust of Scotland Annual Report Established in 1901 under a Trust Deed signed by Andrew Carnegie, the income generated by his original endowment is to “be applied towards the improvement and expansion of the Universities of Scotland” and “rendering attendance at these Universities and the enjoyment of their advantages more available to the deserving and qualified youth of that country to whom the payment of fees might act as a barrier”. For over a century the Trust has fulfilled these aims – by funding student fees, scholarships and bursaries, and through the award of research grants. Operating across all academic disciplines the Trust encourages wider access to higher education and supports high quality scholarships and research in all the Scottish universities. Figure 1: Andrew Carnegie ii Contents Index to tables and charts iv Chair’s Introduction 1 Secretary’s Report 2 Activity Report 7 Summary Statistics for 2015-16 7 Undergraduate Funding 9 Undergraduate Fee Assistance 10 Vacation Scholarships 13 Postgraduate Funding 17 Carnegie-Cameron Bursaries 18 PhD Scholarships 21 Research Funding 27 Research Incentive Grants 28 Collaborative Research Grants 31 Centenary Professorships 35 Structure, Governance and Management 38 Trust Constitution and Powers 38 Objects of the Trust 38 Statement of the Trustees’ Responsibilities 39 Operating Policies of the Trust 39 Financial Review
    [Show full text]
  • 2019 Vice-Chancellors' Panel
    2019 Vice-Chancellors’ panel Wednesday 4 September 2019, 11.30am to 2.00pm State Reception Centre, Fraser’s Kings Park MAJOR EVENT SPONSOR www.ceda.com.au agenda 11.30am Registrations 12.00pm Welcome Melinda Cilento Chief Executive Officer, CEDA 12.05pm Introduction Sean Higgins Employer Partnership Manager, UniSuper 12.10pm Presentation Professor Deborah Terry AO Vice-Chancellor, Curtin University 12.15pm Presentation Professor Selma Alliex Pro-Vice Chancellor and Head of Campus - Fremantle, The University of Notre Dame Australia 12.20pm Presentation Professor Steve Chapman Vice-Chancellor and President, Edith Cowan University 12.25pm Presentation Professor Eeva Leinonen Vice Chancellor, Murdoch University 12.30pm Presentation Professor Dawn Freshwater Vice-Chancellor, University of Western Australia 12.40pm Lunch 1.10pm Facilitated panel discussion with Professor Stephen Parker AO, Partner and National Education Sector Lead, KPMG Professor Deborah Terry AO, Vice-Chancellor, Curtin University Professor Selma Alliex, Pro-Vice Chancellor and Head of Campus - Fremantle, The University of Notre Dame Australia Join the interactive Professor Steve Chapman, Vice-Chancellor and President, Q&A via Edith Cowan University Professor Eeva Leinonen, Vice Chancellor, Murdoch University ceda.pigeonhole.at Professor Dawn Freshwater, Vice-Chancellor, to have your questions University of Western Australia answered. Enter the 1.55pm Vote of thanks and closing comments passcode below Paula Rogers State Director, CEDA VCPANEL 2.00pm Event close sponsor Major Event Sponsor UniSuper Twitter: @UniSuperNews UniSuper is Australia’s dedicated superannuation fund for people working in the higher education and research sector. With more than 400,000 members and over $80 billion in net assets under management, they are one of Australia's largest super funds.
    [Show full text]