HERIOT-WATT UNIVERSITY

MINUTES of the thirty-seventh Annual Meeting of the General Convocation held in the Auditorium, 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 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 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 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 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.

Total income for the year had been a little over £85m – an increase of around 7% on the previous year. The Principal indicated that funding for 2004-5, newly announced by the Funding Council, would increase by 5.3%, slightly above the sector average of 5%. One particularly encouraging element was a substantial increase in knowledge transfer grant which emphasised the recognition by the Funding Councils of the University’s significant presence in the forefront of knowledge transfer.

Expenditure was level in absolute terms with that of the previous year, at nearly £84.5m, and the meeting also noted a comparison of the consolidated results for the same two periods. The Principal emphasised that the underlying operating position, discounting significant one-off costs during the year, was greatly improved, revealing the benefits of restructuring in on-going savings of £4.9m per annum. Based on this strengthened position the University was aiming at the achievement of a surplus in the current and future years to permit investment for development, on the basis of stability 5 against a changing environment in higher education. These positive results were principally attributable to the efforts of all categories of staff.

The Principal referred to and expanded upon the University’s encouraging growth and development in a number of areas:-

• student applications engendered by attractive new courses and vigorous recruitment, particularly in science and technology • the proportion of overseas students, and their contribution to the national and cultural diversity of the University community • the growth of international partnerships, contributing to innovative high quality teaching and research in global areas • expansion in the SCHOLAR programme through the agency of the Interactive University • the development of campus facilities to support innovations in course provision – particularly in the area of Sports Science

The challenges posed by persistent under-funding of higher education entailed an increasing dependence on significant external support, and the need to address changes in the patterns of provision. This was most clearly seen in the debate over the University’s partnership with Borders College and the future of the Scottish Borders Campus. Decisions on these matters would be made on the basis of comprehensive options appraisal and consultation. There were also changes in higher education policy on a UK basis which could be expected to impact on Scottish institutions, notably the issue of top-up fees, which exposed the urgent need for government to address the funding gap. It remained to be seen how much the apparently favourable attitude of Scottish ministers to the Phase 3 Higher Education Review would mean, in terms of additional resources for the pursuit of excellence in research and the quality of student experience in higher education.

In areas where the University could by its own efforts bring about change and development, there were many successes to report, as set out in the Review, and the Principal drew attention to particular aspects of the University’s accomplishments in learning and teaching and in research.

In the former area he alluded to the progress of the Interactive University on a world-wide stage, to the graduate level programme in Russia and Khazakstan offered by the Institute of Petroleum Engineering, to the development and delivery of the Commonwealth MBA in partnership with the Commonwealth of Learning organisation, and to the Syrian Capacity Building Programme, a doctorate level engineering study programme jointly run with the British Council and the Syrian Government. The elaboration of the University’s Learning and Teaching Strategy was being driven by the Learning and Teaching Board, and through the efforts of Professor Brian Smart, Deputy Principal with responsibility for academic development and the building of academic and business relationships, and of Professor Bob Craik, Director of Quality Development and Convener of the Board. The Strategy would offer an holistic approach to the full spectrum of learning and teaching activity, but also bringing a focus in detail on individual elements conducive to quality and best practice, and an emphasis on student representation and student experience.

In the latter area, the Principal referred to the Scottish Manufacturing Institute with its emphasis on advanced manufacture, to new initiatives in Brewing and Distilling, and to significant consortium funding awarded to the School of the Built Environment.

It was the contention of the Principal, shared by those present, that the work of the friends and colleagues giving rise to these achievements gave the University just reason to celebrate its successes, and gave substance to the perception of Heriot-Watt University, shared by the University community and by external observers, as a great University. Such success was firmly based on the staff, students, friends and associates, not least the Convocation and the Court, who invested in the life of the University in their various ways. The Principal saluted the efforts of all who had contributed to the achievements of the University set out in the Review and acknowledged that the quality of these individuals and groups constituted the greatest strength of the University.

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The Convocation received, with appreciation and interest, short presentations from Professor Garry Pender and from Ms Katy Lavery, President of the Students Association. Professor Pender outlined the principal themes in the multi-disciplinary research being carried out within the School of the Built Environment, in collaboration with other institutions. Ms Lavery reported on her participation in the Youth Summit which had been held as an adjunct to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Conference in Edinburgh in October 2003. This had afforded the student delegates direct access to the heads of government in arguing their concerns, which had included access for women to education, the quality of educational provision, mitigation of the impact of HIV and Aids, and support for education in difficult circumstances.

In response to a question, the Principal indicated that the issue of the future profile of the Scottish Borders Campus was the subject of continuing discussions as to the best means of ensuring an appropriate HE/FE provision for the Borders area, and the most suitable contribution to be made by the University. Discussions were also proceeding with the Funding Councils, but no conclusions or decisions had been reached.

The Chancellor, on behalf of the Convocation, thanked the Principal, Ms Lavery and Professor Pender for their interesting and stimulating contributions. The Principal had conveyed the atmosphere of considerable enthusiasm which prevailed in the University despite the difficult times which currently beset higher education. Ms Lavery and her fellow delegate Mr Colin Simpson, had clearly conveyed to the participants at the Conference those issues which were central to the concerns of students the world over, and it was most gratifying for the Convocation to note the wide variety of environmental research being pursued, and the quality of the participating partners. The detail provided by the presentations was a welcome supplement to the necessarily brief outline set out in the Review.

The Chancellor referred with pleasure to the gratifying number of successes achieved by the University in a very competitive environment, and the increasingly secure financial position and prospects which had been attained. These were the fruit of the joint efforts of the University community and the leadership by the Principal and his senior colleagues.

The Chancellor concluded these remarks by expressing appreciation of the input of the individual members of the Convocation in maintaining the network of contacts and interest which the Convocation represented, and for their positive participation in the present meeting.

The Convocation adopted and approved with unanimity the Review and Accounts.

10 CONCLUSION

There being no further business in the formal agenda for the meeting, the Chancellor concluded the proceedings.

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