Annual Financial Report and Accounts
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Annual Report and Accounts 2009/2010 Contents Chairman’s statement 4 Annual report of the Board of Governors 7 Report of the independent auditors to the Board of Governors of the University of Hertfordshire 24 Consolidated income and expenditure account 26 Financial statements 27 Balance sheets 28 Consolidated cash flow statement 30 Statement of principal accounting policies 31 Notes to the accounts 35 Board of Governors 63 Members of the executive team 64 List of major donors 66 Chairman’s statement The University in 2009/10 has strengthened further its position within the Higher Education sector and it is my pleasure to highlight some of the key accomplishments that the University achieved during the year. These achievements have been delivered from a sound financial base and these accounts report an operational surplus of £2.7 million for the year and an improved balance sheet. In drawing up its plans for 2010/11 the Board is confident that the University will again achieve a surplus. However, in the light of the announcements in October 2010 on the Comprehensive Spending Review and the publication of the recommendations of the Independent Review of Higher Education Funding and Student Finance by Lord Browne, the Board will need to assess the implications for the University and make adjustments where necessary to its longer term plans from 2011. 4 Chairman’s statement The University has seen a dramatic rise in the • Our environmental performance was numbers applying to be admitted to its recognised as the University received a undergraduate full-time courses over recent highly commended Green Gown Award for years. Applications for entry in September continuous improvement in waste 2010 were such that very few places were management. In the ‘Universities that Count’ available in Clearing and entry standards to Environment Index the University received a courses have risen substantially. This silver ranking which was above the HEI and popularity is not only down to the continuing business sector average. demand for higher education but to the • Improvements to the University’s estate growing profile of the University in the sector. continued, all targeted at improving the quality of the Student Experience. The We were delighted to receive external University opened The Forum. This £38 endorsement of this growing profile. In 2010, million entertainment and social complex is we were shortlisted for the Times Higher one of our most exciting projects to date. Education Entrepreneurial University of the • Work started on the new Law Court Building Year Award. The University rose in the at the front of the de Havilland Campus, as ‘University Guide for 2011’ league table well as a new reception area. The Garfield published by the Guardian from ninety-seven Weston Foundation have generously agreed to sixty. In the Independent Complete to donate £250,000 to support the University Guide 2010 we were placed forty- development of this building. Their donation one out of 115 universities, up nine places attracts a naming opportunity and the new from the previous year. In the Times Good reception area will be named after the University Guide 2010 we ranked sixty-three Foundation. out of 115 UK universities, up three places • A new Student Experience Strategy was from the previous year. In the 2010 People & launched not only to develop student Planet Green League, we rank third out of 122 facilities but look afresh at approaches to UK universities. key issues identified in the National Student Survey (NSS) such as feedback and course The academic achievements and successes of representation. individual departments and staff are too • The University harnessed new technologies numerous to mention but highlights are: and systems to help improve the quality of service. The University was the first British • The School of Pharmacy was awarded full university to implement Active Reception, an Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great innovative live chat and monitoring software Britain accreditation and Professor Soraya solution to enhance the student experience Dhillon MBE, Head of the School of during Clearing. Pharmacy was appointed new Director • A new finance system was introduced and General of the Pharmaceutical Council. work to bring a new human resources • In research, our Centre for Astrophysics system online was well advanced with a Research discovered some of the most new student system not far behind. distant galaxies ever observed and the University achieved the highest percentage All of this was underpinned by the publication success rate nationally for Research Council of a new Strategic Plan for 2010/15. UK research grant applications at thirty- three percent. 5 Chairman’s statement There have been many examples of student All of these achievements would not be achievement and again I must draw attention possible without the commitment and abilities to the continuing outstanding success of the of the staff of the University, to whom the Formula Student team, which at the Formula Board and I express our gratitude, especially Student event at Silverstone in July came fifth against the backdrop of the challenging overall and were again the top UK student economic environment. My thanks also go to team. the ongoing commitment to the members of the Board of Governors who again have given Our student sporting achievements have been of their time freely and participated in an considerable this period. Five University of extremely busy year especially with the review Hertfordshire Athletic Union (UHAU) sports of the ‘Size and Shape of the Board’ and the teams won their respective leagues - Women’s appointment of a new Vice-Chancellor. In Badminton, Netball 1sts, Fencing, Women’s learning of the intention of the Vice-Chancellor, Tennis and Men’s Tennis. As a University we Professor Tim Wilson, to retire at the end of achieved a top 50 finish in the British December 2010, the Board acknowledged the University and Colleges Sport (BUCS) league enormous contribution Professor Wilson had with individual BUCS achievements from Leah made not only to the development of the Robson who finished second in the University but also to the reputation and Trampolining Championships, Lawrence standing of the University in the outside world Lowman who finished 3rd in the 800m and since he took office in 2003. 1500m freestyle events in Long Course Swimming Championships and Jonathan I am delighted that we have been able to Goodman and Jennifer Wilson who won appoint Professor Quintin McKellar as our new bronze at Archery and Karate Championships Vice-Chancellor from January 2011. As the respectively. current Principal of the Royal Veterinary College, Professor McKellar not only has a One of our student’s, Jackson Wray, was distinguished academic and leadership record, selected for England Rugby U18’s and Dave but he knows the county of Hertfordshire and Bell, another student, won European University the surrounding region well. He will be able to Gold at the European University Sports take forward the newly agreed Strategic Plan Association (EUSA) championship in and ensure the University capitalises on its Amsterdam. Ten of our students won achievements and continues to be relevant international caps representing their respective and modern meeting the needs of its students countries in women’s football. We also and society at large. welcomed Eric Mathias from the British Virgin Islands (BVI) as the first athlete to visit Hertfordshire Sports Village as part of a pre- games training camp agreement with the BVI for the 2012 Olympics. Mrs Jo Connell Chairman The University expresses its gratitude to those Board of Governors organisations and individuals who continue to support scholarships which are available to students of the University. 6 Annual report of the Board of Governors In presenting its review to accompany the relationship which was crowned by the Accounts, the Board is aware of its completion of the flagship Student Forum responsibility to determine the educational building over the summer of 2009 which character and mission of the University and to brought some of the best student set its general strategic direction. The report entertainment facilities in the country to the covers the following: University. In his presentation, the Vice- Chancellor drew attention to the substantial • Activities of the Board improvement in the University’s financial position since the beginning of the financial • Membership of the Board year. He paid tribute to staff across the institution whose efforts had enabled the • Operating and Financial Review University to deal successfully with restructuring and new challenges. Activities of the Board The Board met on eight occasions during the A major item of discussion was the Strategic year - 20 October 2009, 25 November 2009, Plan for 2010/15. This was approved at the 12 January 2010, 23 March 2010, 18 May October meeting but a considerable amount of 2010, 1 June 2010, and 23 June 2010 with an work and discussion took place in the spring away day on 2 February 2010. It proved a and summer meetings on how the Strategic particularly busy year for the Board in seeking Plan would be monitored. Of particular and then appointing a new Vice-Chancellor importance were the Key Performance and in conducting a review of the ‘Size and Indicators (KPIs) that related to the drivers and Shape’ of the Board in addition to its normal enablers identified in the plan. The Board programme of activity. approved a comprehensive set of KPIs revised to demonstrate progress against these drivers The Board continued to discharge its primary and enablers. responsibilities set out in the Articles of Government with enthusiasm and due The Board also focussed on the critical issue diligence. It determined the educational of student recruitment. The University had character and mission of the University whilst experienced an unprecedented increase in ensuring the efficient and effective use of applications to full-time undergraduate resources, solvency and the safeguarding programmes over the last few years and this of assets.