SFC/19/20 Agenda item 6 25 April 2019 Chief Executive’s Report Purpose 1. This paper provides Council with a report from the Chief Executive on matters of current interest. Background 2. The Chief Executive’s key external engagements are noted at the Annex. Risk assessment 3. The risks that are relevant to this paper are about delivery of the Council’s whole Strategic Plan and are therefore those captured in the Corporate Risk Register. Recommendations 4. The Council is invited to note the content of the report. Financial implications 5. There are no direct financial implications associated with this paper. Publication 6. This paper will be withheld from publication on the Council’s website under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002, Section 30: prejudicial to the effective conduct of public affairs. Further information 7. Contact: Karen Watt, Chief Executive (tel: 0131 313 6646, email: [email protected]). Chief Executive’s key external engagements from 25 January to 18 April 2019 Colleges, universities and specialist institutions Forth Valley College Open University Edinburgh College Crichton Campus Dumfries & Galloway College Sabhal Mòr Ostaig University of Edinburgh Glasgow Kelvin College University of St Andrews Inverness College University of the Highlands & Islands Further Education Regional Board, UHI University of Stirling University of Aberdeen Royal Conservatoire of Scotland Ayrshire College Enterprise agencies • SDS on skills alignment, to progress recruitment of joint Director post; to discuss shared vision piece; to progress work mapping future joint work • SDS/SFC Chairs and CEOs meeting • Enterprise & Skills Strategic Board, presenting joint with SDS and introducing SFC’s innovation work • Panel discussion with SE CEO, Steve Dunlop, at Ayrshire College’s Strategy Day • SDI CEO Scottish Government • Strategic Plan consultation with joint sponsorship teams from Advanced Learning, Skills and Economic Development • Liaison meeting with Universities Scotland • Quarterly liaison meeting with Mr Lochhead, Chair, Aileen McKechnie, Danielle Hennessy • Colleges Strategic Futures Group chaired by SG • DFM launch of new Innovation Centre for Engineering at Glasgow Kelvin College • Attended and spoke at Mr Lochhead launch of Construction Scotland Innovation Centre, Hamilton 1 • Catch-ups with Linda Pooley • HE Strategic Futures Group chaired by SG • DFM meeting at Crichton Campus • Quarterly Ministerial meeting with Mr Lochhead • Meeting and briefing session with Chair and Chief Executive UKRI • DFM dinner for UKRI, alongside Mr Lochhead and Mr McKee and Directors General Paul Johnston and Liz Ditchburn • Meeting with Mr Lochhead on science, international and college capital • Meeting with Mr Lochhead and Universities Scotland on budgets and forward planning • FUTUREquipped Ministerial showcase event, Edinburgh College, with Mr McKee Key partners • Opening address at sparqs conference • Colleges Scotland Principals’ Group meeting • Commissioner for Fair Access, Professor Peter Scott • Alex Neil MSP and cross-party group re New College Lanarkshire • Advanced HE Strategic Planning Roundtable • Chair of UK Government’s Scottish Business Taskforce • Universities Scotland – introductory executive team meeting; Secretaries Group Annual Dinner; Convenor 1:1 • Director QAA Scotland • Chair and CEO, Research and Innovation UK • Vice Principal International, University of Dundee and Trade Envoy • Scottish Institute for Enterprise, Heriot-Watt University • Colleges Scotland introductory meeting with Chair and CEO • CEO NHS Education for Scotland • John Jeans of the Boards of Imanova and Edinburgh Molecular Imaging • Scottish Futures Trust, Investment Programmes Director Other • TES Interview with Julia Belgutay • Lecture by Vikki Boliver at University of Edinburgh on widening access • Presentation by economist Mariana Mazzucato, on mission funding and public value 2 .