HERIOT-WATT UNIVERSITY MINUTES of the thirty-seventh Annual Meeting of the General Convocation held in the Auditorium,Edinburgh Business School,Edinburgh Campus, Riccarton, on Wednesday, 17 March 2004, attended by the following members: In the Chair: The Rt Hon The Lord Mackay of Clashfern, Chancellor of the University Principal J S Archer Professor J E L Simmons Ms S A Ashby Professor B S Wherrett Mr A P Buchan Professor I Mason Mr J B Buchanan Mrs I G Brydie Dr V R F de Lima Mr G Brown Ms J M Hill Mr G J N Gemmell Ms M Rudd Ms K Lavery Ms M D Thomson Dr A Bell Mr J Alexander Professor A M Close Mr J Millard Professor B Edwards Mr B Roberts Professor P John Ms K M Patrick Professor M F Lang Professor G S Milne Dr A Lyndon Professor R T Beaty Dr J M Mair Professor A A I Wedderburn Mr D H Marwick Sir Peter Heatly Professor G Pender Mr R J Taylor Professor B G D Smart Dr S K Monro Professor A C Todd Mr R Harper Professor A C Walker Ms M R W Caden Professor J I B Wilson Ms K M Dinnis Professor J Wolfram Professor J E McLachlan Professor E Brown Mr J Stuart Mr J A G Fiddes Ms E J M Broughton Dr N Irons Mr D H Guest Mr D Riddell Ms M P Henton Mr P L Wilson Mrs L Kirkwood-Smith Mr A G Hood Dr A Boyd Ms A Hetherington Ms S Mackenzie Ms R McSween Mr A Myers Mr J D Polson Mr A L Richardson Mrs M Stenhouse Ms M Watson Mrs M S M Thornton Ms F Williams Ms K J Wilson 1 1 WELCOME AND APOLOGIES The Chancellor welcomed those attending the thirty-seventh annual meeting, expressing the hope that all present would find the proceedings stimulating. The Secretary of the University, Mr P L Wilson, indicated that apologies for absence had been received from 70 members. As in past years, interested members of the University who were not members of the Convocation had been invited to attend the meeting as observers. 2 OBITUARIES The Chancellor referred with sadness to the deaths since the last meeting of a number of friends and servants of the University, including a number of honorary graduates. Maclean Fraser The University had noted with great sadness the death in service of Maclean Fraser, since 1970 lecturer and senior lecturer in the Department of Accountancy and Finance, latterly the School of Management and Languages. He was closely associated with the development and operation of the distance learning BA, and would be greatly missed by many colleagues and students. Dr Andrew M Russell An honorary graduate of the University (D.Univ 1989) and former member of the University Court, Dr Russell had served on Court and on the Finance Committee from March 1980 to July 1989 and as Chairman of the Finance Committee from August 1983 to July 1989. Professor William Cochran An honorary graduate of the University (DSc 1992), Professor Cochran did pioneering work in the 1950’s and 1960’s underpinning research on many of the scientific problems later the subject of Nobel prizes won by others, including the structure of DNA.He made fundamental contributions to several areas of research including crystal structures, xray scattering, ferroelectricity in crystals, and latterly, condensed matter physics. Dr Wilhelmina Barns-Graham A recent honorary graduate of the University, Dr Barns-Graham had received the degree of Doctor of Letters in July 2003 in recognition of her distinguished artistic career in the field of painting. Professor Sir Robert Boyd Professor Sir Robert Boyd FRS, an honorary graduate of the University (DSc 1979), was a pioneer of space physics and a founder of the European Space Research Organisation, playing also a leading part in the development of its successor body, the European Space Agency. Dorothy, Lady Ross The University had noted with great sadness the death, on 7 February 2004, of Lady Ross, whose association with the University was most active in the period of service which Lord Ross offered to the University as member and Chairman of the Court from 1978 until 1990, but had continued to be expressed in warm friendship and staunch support for the University in subsequent years. 2 3 QUEEN’S BIRTHDAY AND NEW YEAR HONOURS The Chancellor referred with pleasure to the following honours conferred since the 36th Annual Meeting: Queen’s Birthday Honours 2003 The Court had noted with pleasure the conferral of Honours on members and associates of the University as follows: Dr J McClure, member of Convocation and of Court-CBE Professor G H O Palmer, School of Life Sciences – OBE Professor R Beaty, Member of Convocation – OBE Dr Elizabeth Blackadder, Honorary Graduate – DBE Dr John Tusa, Honorary Graduate – Knighthood New Year Honours 2004 Rt Hon Menzies Campbell PC MP, Member of Convocation – Knight Bachelor 4 MINUTES The Minutes of the 36th Annual Meeting of the Convocation had been circulated with the Agenda, and were approved by the meeting. 5 COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE COURT 5.1 Appointments to the Convocation With reference to Minute 5.2 of the Minutes of the thirty-sixth Annual Meeting of the General Convocation, held on 21 March 2003, the Convocation noted that the proposals transmitted by the Court to the Privy Council for approval, and amended slightly in correspondence, had been approved. The Court might identify up to fifteen MSPs to be appointed under the new paragraph 1(4)(n) of the Statute. The following members had accepted the Court’s invitation in terms of this paragraph to serve on the Convocation: Ms Sarah Boyack, MSP Mr Robin Harper, MSP Ms Fiona Hyslop, MSP Mr David Davidson, MSP Mr Jeremy Purvis, MSP David McLetchie, MSP Mr Alasdair Morgan, MSP 3 The fifteen members of the Scottish Parliament invited to join the Convocation had been identified in terms of geographical representation, and of ministerial and committee responsibilities as follows: Edinburgh Borders Others Rt Hon Lord James Douglas-Hamilton Mr Jeremy Purvis Rt Hon Jim Wallace Mr Robin Harper Mr Euan Robson Mr D Davidson Ms Fiona Hyslop Ms Rhona Brankin Mr David McLetchie Committee Chairs Ministers Mr Alasdair Morgan Mr Lewis McDonald Ms Sarah Boyack Mr Ross Finnie Mr Malcolm Chisholm Mr Frank McAveety Those declining had cited possible difficulties with conflict of interests or other commitments. The Court had agreed that the following religious and cultural groups be invited to be represented under the provisions of the new paragraph 1(4)(o) : religious communities – Muslim, Jewish, Roman Catholic, Episcopalian, Baptist, Hindu cultural groups – Chinese, Norwegian The following new members had been identified in terms of this paragraph Miss Mary Rose Caden Mr Amrit Lal Professor Jeff McLachlan Mr John Stuart Ms Kirsti Dinnis No nominations had emerged from correspondence directed towards the Muslim, Jewish or Chinese communities 6 MEMBERSHIP OF CONVOCATION The Chancellor referred to the information set out in Agenda Paper B for the meeting, relating to changes in the membership of the Convocation other than by election or co-option. These changes were embodied in the Convocation’s list of members as at 1 February 2004, circulated with the Agenda. A number of corrections had been notified since the circulation of the papers which had been noted for the future. Notable among these was the retiral of the Earl of Morton , and his replacement, as Lord Lieutenant of West Lothian, by Mrs Isobel Brydie MBE, attending the present meeting. 7 ELECTION OF MEMBER OF CONVOCATION TO COURT The Chancellor referred to the provision of Statute XII.I(v), set out in Agenda Paper C for the meeting, that the Convocation might appoint four of its members to the Court of the University, and to the two vacancies presently arising in consequence of the expiry of appointment of Mr Jobson and Lord Johnston. 4 The Secretary of the University reported that one eligible nomination had been received, relating to THE HON LORD JOHNSTON. In accordance with Clause 1(v) of Statute XII, Lord Johnston had therefore been elected to serve as a member of the Court appointed by the Convocation for the period until the fortieth Meeting of the Convocation in 2007. 8 CO-OPTION TO MEMBERSHIP OF CONVOCATION In accordance with Statute XI.1(5)(a), Convocation might co-opt to its membership such other persons, not exceeding six in all, who should hold office for a period of three years and should be eligible for re-appointment. Present members in this category were: Dr J McClure, co-opted for the period to 31 July 2004. Dr I C Ritchie, co-opted for the period to 31 July 2004. Mr R W Thomson, co-opted for the period to 31 July 2005 Mrs E J M Broughton, co-opted for the period to 31 July 2006. Mr D H Guest, co-opted for the period to 31 July 2006. There were therefore three vacancies. The Secretary of the University reported that at the closing date for receipt of nominations, three eligible nominations had been received. These were Mr G Bissett Dr J McClure Mr A B Taylor who had therefore been appointed in accordance with Clause 1(5)(a) of Statute XI to serve as members co-opted by the Convocation for the period 1 August 2004 to 31 July 2007. 9 ANNUAL REVIEW OF THE UNIVERSITY 2003 Before speaking on a number of the salient developments and successes enjoyed by the University in the past year, the Principal gave an outline summary of the University’s financial position, set out in full in the Accounts for the 12 months to 31 July 2003, circulated to Members of the Convocation.