Appointment of External Members to the Governing Body (the Council) of Ulster University This information pack can be made available in other formats. For details, please contact the Office of the University Secretary: Office of the University Secretary Ulster University Cromore Road Coleraine BT52 1SA T: +44 (0)28 7012 4533 F: +44 (0)28 7012 4927 E: [email protected] 02 Contents Appointment of External Members to the Governing Body (the Council) of Ulster University Contents Welcome ........................................ 03 A Profile of the University ......... 04 The Five and Fifty Strategic Plan ............................... 06 The Role of the Council ............... 07 Appointment Details ................. 09 Person Specification for Council Members ......................... 10 How to Apply ................................ 12 Appendix 1 .................................... 13 03 Welcome Appointment of External Members to the Governing Body (the Council) of Ulster University Welcome Dear Applicant, I am delighted that you are positioned to approach the 50 years If you have any queries regarding the considering applying to become a beyond 2034 with confidence and content of this booklet or the role of a member of the governing body at competitive advantage. Challenging Council member please contact us using what is a particularly exciting time goals will ensure that as we reach these the details provided on the front cover for us here at Ulster. milestones the University remains of the booklet. academically excellent, continues to be Ulster is a modern civic university relevant to our society and is true to the We recommend that you have a look recognised internationally for civic ambitions of our founders. at the Ulster University website academic excellence, innovation and (ulster.ac.uk) to find out more about regional engagement. The university Despite the challenges in higher the University and what it does. incorporated its four campuses in education we are very well placed not 1984; we are located in Belfast, just to adapt but to thrive, and not just We look forward to receiving your Coleraine, Magee College in Derry, and to embrace change but to seek out those completed application. Jordanstown with branch campuses in opportunities where we can assert our both London and Birmingham, and an strengths and contribution. extensive distance learning provision. This information booklet sets out: Professor Paddy Nixon We have embarked on a new and Professor Paddy Nixon ambitious five year strategic plan, with • A Profile of the University; Vice-Chancellor and President Vice-Chancellor and President a strategic vision that will take us to our • The Five and Fifty Strategic Plan; fiftieth anniversary in 2034. • The Role of the Council; • Appointment Details; This plan is focused on delivering a • Person Specification for university that is sustainable and Council Members; and Mr John Hunter innovative with a strong international • How to Apply. Chair of Council reputation. An institution that is well 04 A Profile of the University Appointment of External Members to the Governing Body (the Council) of Ulster University A Profile of the University Key numbers: Education to Inspire • 25,000 students across our four Ulster University is Northern Ireland’s We have a national and international We collaborate with our students campuses largest university and although we reputation for teaching excellence. Our throughout their learning journey. are international in our outlook, we student-centred approach to learning Our extensive workplace connections • £200m turnover have our roots firmly embedded in the and teaching combined with our modern maximise the opportunity to put local community. Ulster is a dynamic and engaging learning environment learning theory into relevant practice • Ranked as one of the world’s top 150 university where student aspiration and supports the intellectual and personal and some 2,000 of our students young universities market demand meet. ambitions of every student. We inspire undertake industrial or professional and equip our graduates to be adaptable placements every year. • Ranked in the top 25% of UK We’re currently investing £263m in the and to thrive in their chosen fields. universities for overall research development of our new Belfast campus and we have plans to expand our Magee Career-focused learning is central to • £43m invested in research and campus in Derry~Londonderry, including our delivery of a rewarding student innovation in 2016/17 the establishment of a new Graduate experience and education. Our highly Entry Medical School. Our research skilled teaching staff deliver this with • A community of international breakthroughs regularly make global energy and passion, nurturing ability and students from over 100 countries headlines and we have a strong track talent to its full potential. across the globe record of support for business growth, making the University a key economic In addition to the 25,000 students • 94% of graduates in work or further driver. registered across our four campuses, a study 6 months after leaving further 4,000 students are registered university Over the next number of years we will on franchise programmes with be working to realise our ambitious new partner institutions, both at home strategic vision, so this is an exciting time and internationally. We are widely to be part of Ulster University. acknowledged for our achievements in widening participation in higher education, and our flexible distance learning facility provides students worldwide with access to our teaching excellence. 05 A Profile of the University Appointment of External Members to the Governing Body (the Council) of Ulster University Pioneering Research and Innovative Impact Our world-leading research informs • Ulster University’s overall 4* environment and enjoy a strong track international students to study at Ulster our teaching excellence; from nursing performance (i.e. world leading) and record of support for business growth, University, for our students to enhance to sport, law to business, creative research impact ranking (24.2%) was research consultancy and knowledge their employability and broaden their industries to architecture, engineering to better than 119 other UK universities. transfer. outlook with a period of study overseas biomedical sciences. and for our world-leading research to • Ulster University was the best Global ambition benefit from collaboration with the best Results from the most recent Research performing university in Northern international partners. Excellence Framework (REF) exercise Ireland for outstanding research We are a truly regional university across (2014) showed that: impact, world-leading research Northern Ireland with a focus on global Enriching the student experience for environment and for world-leading impact through international research, both international and local students, • There was world-leading research research in biomedical sciences, teaching excellence and partnerships. enabling both student and staff undertaken in all 20 of Ulster nursing, health sciences and social mobility, exploring transnational University’s Units of Research work. From international research education potential and enhancing our Assessment. collaborations to the creation of over 20 international reach and standing are • The impact of our Law research non-research partnerships in China, from central to our future plans. • Ulster University almost doubled ranked as number one in the UK. our participation in Science without its world-leading research (4*) since Borders to the continued popularity of We are proud to play our part in an the previous Research Assessment • 100% of our biomedical research Erasmus programmes, our global future increasingly confident Northern Ireland, Exercise. environment is judged as world- will reflect the talent, contribution and delivering the education that sustains leading. potential of Northern Ireland and its a pipeline of assured graduates who • Ulster University is now in the top people. continue to make an impact locally and 25% of all UK research universities. More recently our Biomedical Sciences globally, ensuring that Northern Ireland research made one of the biggest Ulster University was recently is firmly on the international stage and • Ulster University is in the top 10 global breakthroughs in pancreatic revealed as one of the top 200 most attracts inward investment. We are UK submitting universities for cancer in over 40 years. We encourage outward-looking institutions in the using our knowledge and expertise with biomedical sciences and nursing and the seamless and dynamic transfer of world by Times Higher Education. Our creativity and purpose to address both health sciences. ideas from the research lab and lecture international ambitions reflect the scale local and global challenges. hall to the marketplace or the clinical of the opportunity: opportunity for 06 The Five and Fifty Strategic Plan Appointment of External Members to the Governing Body (the Council) of Ulster University The Five and Fifty Strategic Plan The University has embarked on a challenges that have particular new and ambitious strategic plan, relevance to Northern Ireland. known as the Five and Fifty Strategic Collectively our impact will contribute Plan, with a vision that will take us towards the social, cultural and to our fiftieth anniversary in 2034. economic prosperity and wellbeing of As Northern Ireland’s civic university,