AC/18/1 THE ROBERT GORDON UNIVERSITY ACADEMIC COUNCIL Minute of the meeting held on 4 December 2017 (2.00pm – 4.00pm). Present: Professor F von Prondzynski (Chair), Mr F Antoniazzi, Dr I Arana, Professor D Ashall, Mrs M Buchan, Professor D Cairns, Dr N Connon, Ms L Curtis, Mr J Dunphy, Ms J Guest, Professor P Hagan, Mrs E Hancock, Professor J Harper, Ms K Harrison, Dr A Lamb, Ms J Leith, Mr M Lewis, Professor K Mackinnon, Professor J McCall, Mr B McCann, Professor D McClean, Dr J McConnachie, Professor I Murray, Ms J Royle, Ms L Sharp, Mr M Shepherd, Ms J Steed, Professor J Steel, Mrs V Strachan, Professor S Vertigans and Dr A Weidmann. Apologies: Mrs K Close, Professor E Gammie, Mr M Ife, Mrs A Lawani, Dr M Leon and Mr M Sollis. In Attendance: Dr D Cockburn, Ms H Douglas (Secretary) and Mrs F McLean Whyte (Clerk). Welcome: Dr Arana, Dr Connon, Ms Curtis, Professor McCall, Ms Sharp and Mr Shepherd were welcomed to their first meeting. 1. MINUTE Action Academic Council approved the Minute of the meeting held on 21 June 2017 [AC/17/3], and noted a Matters Arising Report. 1.1 Academic Calendar and Semester Dates [AC/17/3/1.1] The Convener of the Graduation Working Group had provided the following update: Ms C Brooker The feasibility of moving the summer Graduation Ceremonies forward by two weeks, from the Summer of 2019 onwards, was currently being explored. As a first step, a detailed analysis of the Student Records specific business process was undertaken. This identified a number of ways in which the change in dates could be facilitated, but it was recognised that these changes would have an impact on other university processes. For that reason, a short life “Graduation Working Group” was convened with representation from Governance and Academic Quality, Academic Administration, and the Schools of Engineering, Applied Social Studies, and Pharmacy and Life Sciences. The purpose of the Group was to consider what adjustments to ‘normal’ university processes/schedules would be required to facilitate an earlier graduation. Considerations included timetabling of examinations, assessment administration timescales, the timing of Assessment Boards and venue availability. Associated risks to the university were also considered. The Working Group agreed that the Award Assessment Boards would need to be given priority and be brought forward to the first week of the two-week Assessment Board period and, similarly, examinations contributing to the Award Boards plus large exams would need to be timetabled earlier in the exam diet to allow sufficient time for the marking to take place. Confirmation was received from the Assistant Chief Academic Officer that the potential changes to the examination timetable could be accommodated; however, the Working Group agreed that further substantive work regarding an analysis of the required changes to the Assessment Board schedule was required and that this should be delayed until the availability of a suitable venue had been confirmed. Page 1 of 16 AC/18/1 The Theatre was the preferred venue for the Summer Graduation, both in terms of student experience and the ease of running the event; but liaison with the Theatre subsequently clarified that they could not accommodate a booking from the university during June as it was a peak month for income from touring opera/ballet /theatre companies. The Group would continue to pursue a response from the Theatre about the possibility of moving the ceremonies forward by just one week to the first week in July in summer 2019. Should the Theatre be unable to accommodate a one-week change in dates, then the next step would be to assess the Music Hall and the Beach Ballroom as potential alternative venues. The latter option would require a re-profiling of the number and size of ceremonies held during the week due to seating restrictions. Once the venue had been settled the impact Ms C Brooker on the Assessment Board schedule would be examined. The Chair advised Council that he had been informed the university’s Graduation Ceremonies in December 2018 would be the first public events to be held in the newly re-furbished Music Hall, and this could give the university an opportunity for Mr M Sollis & Ms A Duthie additional publicity. A member advised Council of concerns he had recently become aware of from staff and students in his School relating to the potential impact of the revised Academic Calendar on ‘semester three’/summer teaching activities. In particular, the time available over the summer period to schedule teaching and marking of assessments prior to the start of the new session, especially for accelerated Masters courses and given, in the revised Calendar, semester 2 would end at the same point but that the new session would commence one week earlier. Council was reminded that the decision not to move semester 2 forward had been taken in order to minimise disruption to international student recruitment. It was agreed a small group would Mrs V Strachan meet to discuss the concerns as soon as possible, in order that the marketing and recruitment teams could be informed as a matter of urgency. 1.2 Athena SWAN [AC/17/3/5.2.1] The university submitted its application for the Athena SWAN Institutional Bronze Award on 30 November 2017. Council was informed that if the application was successful, there was potential for two Schools to make individual bids in the following year, and two more in the year after. This was in recognition of the considerable effort that was required to prepare an application. Council extended its thanks to the Vice-Principal for Research and those staff Prof P Hagan instrumental in compiling the application, for their efforts. 1.3 Gender Action Plan [AC/17/3/7] The Gender Action Plan could be accessed at www.rgu.ac.uk/about/planning-and- policy/strategy/outcome-agreement/. 2. COMPOSITION AND REMIT Council noted an extract from Organisational Regulation O3 relating to its composition and remit. Page 2 of 16 AC/18/1 3. CHAIR’S REPORT In his routine report, the Chair highlighted: − Ministerial Letter of Guidance: the Minister for Further Education, Higher Education and Science, Ms Shirley-Anne Somerville MSP, had issued her letter of guidance to the Scottish Funding Council on 18 October 2017. This highlighted the Scottish Government priorities, including a desire for an ‘intensification’ of the Outcome Agreement framework in order to drive institutions to achieve increasingly ambitious targets; − Ministerial Visit: Ms Somerville had visited the university on 28 November 2017 to learn more about RGU’s articulation and access provision, and the establishment of a Joint Strategic Board between the university and North-East Scotland College (NESCol). In a private meeting during the visit the Principal, accompanied by the Principal of North East Scotland College (NESCol), had presented an argument for metrics not necessarily based on SIMD to be used for the region, due to the region’s distinctive demographics, a view also shared by the University of Aberdeen; − Council was advised that Ms Somerville was to chair the Delivery Group, tasked with coordinating and monitoring progress with the implementation of the Commission on Widening Access’ Blueprint for Fairness, in recognition of the importance the Scottish Government placed on the Group’s role; − Public funding: Universities Scotland’s efforts to obtain a 2% funding increase for the sector in the forthcoming Scottish budget for 2018-19, due to be announced on 14 December 2017, and the likelihood this would be a flat cash settlement; − Industrial Strategy: this had been announced on 27 November 2017 by the UK Government to support research, and research and development. A central part of this was the establishment of a Strategic Priorities Fund that would be managed by the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and that would fund interdisciplinary research in government priority areas; − Oil and Gas Technology Centre: following discussions with the University of Aberdeen it had been decided to establish two discrete centres of excellence, one in decommissioning and one in subsea, and discussions were ongoing on this basis; − Accolades for RGU: the university had appeared fifth in the UK in a league table published by The Economist for its track record in boosting graduates’ salaries; − Trade Board: this had been established by the Scottish Government to oversee and improve Scotland’s export performance, and the Principal had been invited to be a member of the Board; − Aberdeen Football Club: the Principal had given evidence at a pre-determination hearing held by Aberdeen City Council on the Kingsford stadium and training centre and expressed strong support for the plans both in terms of the potential positive impact on the university and the city; − Nippon Foundation: the university had held the prestigious Nippon Foundation Summer School for the second year running; and − Council leader visits: leaders from both Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire Councils had visited the university and, during this visit, it had been confirmed that the plans for a new Dee Bridge had been shelved. Page 3 of 16 AC/18/1 4. STRATEGIC PLANNING 4.1 University Strategy, Business Plan (including KPIs) and Risk Register Council noted a first quarter update on the Business Plan 2017-18, in addition to the Strategic Framework 2017-21, the Business Plan 2017-18 (including the key performance indicators, and the Risk Register 2017-18, all of the latter having been approved by the Board of Governors at its meeting on 5 October 2017. Members of Council were encouraged to read the Business Plan in detail, as it Academic provided a succinct summary of the university’s key priorities, and demonstrated Council Members the university’s commitment to addressing the Scottish Government’s priorities for higher education.