UNIVERSITY OF EXETER
DUAL ASSURANCE REPORT: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Present: Peter Lacey, Prof Neil Armstrong, Sean Fielding
Minute of meeting 21 April 2008
1.
External Affairs Plan
The meeting considered progress to date on the External Affairs Plan.
A number of actions had been highlighted as important but at risk of noncompletion. After considering each of these the Group highlighted the
following areas:
EA Objective 1 – To be outward facing and entrepreneurial
To work through the Deputy Head of Enterprise Development based in
Cornwall to secure an effective package from EU convergence funding.
Noted that some EU ESF funding had already been achieved in Cornwall to
support entrepreneurship but that the mainbody of work is around the ESI
project. Work on this is now being directed by the DVC Resources.
EA –Objective 2 To put our customers at the heart of what we do
A number of actions relate to improving client relationship management
through CRM systems.
Noted that although projects relating to CRM were progressing more slowly
than anticipated, they had now grown considerably in scope to encompass
research management, project management and business CRM. The project
is being coordinated by the University’s Project Office team and is on track to
be delivered by July/ August 2008
EA Objective 3 – to connect education and research to society’s needs
Establish a wide range of entrepreneurship programmes for students through
new SOBE modules and the Launchpad initiative
Noted that an external provider had now been commissioned to provide these
programmes in the short term and that this, combined with the continuing
growth in SOBE entrepreneurship programmes should deliver the objective.
Engage alumni in support for employability particularly linked to schools
Noted that some work had been undertaken in this area but the appointment
of the new Head of Alumni Relations was speeding up the process. The final
report would show examples of collaboration with particular schools.
Grow opportunities for student placements in response to the process review
of work placements.
Noted that Education Strategy funding was now available and that an
approach had been agreed that will provide significant extra resource in this
area for Schools.
EA Objective 5 – CSR
Produce CSR Annual Report
Noted that our submission to the regional BITC programme had been made on time
but that the consultants had been slow in providing feedback. An annual report
would be available on-line shortly and a guide to the community focus of our CSR
work would be produced in time for events over the summer.
Explore possibilities for trialling a staff volunteering scheme
Noted that Personnel and Staff Development Service were now actively considering
this possibility; aiming to find a way to link staff volunteering to key projects of interest
to the University.
EA Objective 6 – To encourage enterprise
Develop a Knowledge Transfer Advisory Board to oversee the performance of
University KT activities
Noted that this Board had not yet been established. The Group requested a report
on the reasons for this and plans for eventual establishment.
2.
Performance and Risk Reports
The Group considered risks relating to external affairs which had reviewed since the
Dual Assurance framework had been established, ie:
Risk 9 Reputation Management
Risk 10 Income Generation
Risk 11 International Student Numbers
Risk 15 Undergraduate Admissions
Risk 21 Communication and Commitment to Strategy
Risk 23 Product Portfolio
Risk 28 Employability
The Group noted progress made against all the risks and decided that no additional
action was needed. Although the Group recommended that it would be important to
consider additional actions relating to Councillors if the May local elections in the City
led to a different leading group of councillors.
3.
Task and Finish Group Reports
a)
SOBE – Neil Armstrong reported on progress towards establishing an
international businesses school, starting with the appointment of a new
Director
b)
Middle East – the Report on the Dubai visit was welcomed. It was agreed
that the Task and Finish Group would monitor progress towards successful
completion of the projects identified in the plan and other projects in the
Middle East area. It was agreed that Sean Fielding would contact Mike
Jordan of Cornish Stairways to see if there was potential advantage to be
gained from linking with his existing contacts in the Middle East.
c)
CSR – The report from the consultants was considered. It was agreed that a
report on the overall outcome of the CSR exercise would go to Council in
July as a part 2 item, together with a printed ‘glossy’ document describing the
University’s impact on the community in particular. It was expected that a
paper would be produced in the autumn highlighting areas where
performance on CSR should be improved.
It was noted that a draft CSR website had been produced and would go live
to coincide with the launch of the community document. It was agreed that
the community document should be produced so as to be available for
circulation at University summer events but that there may not need to be a
specific launch event for the document unless it was possible to piggy back
another. SF would explore the potential of linking with a city based Guild led
event.
d)
4.
Website – Progress on the website by the Task and Finish Group was
welcomed. It was noted that the consultation process on ‘mood boards’ and
structure would begin following further consideration by the Task and Finish
Group in Mid May.
External Affairs Plan 2008-09
It was agreed that in view of the impending uncertain outcome of the RAE; continuing
discussions on the University’s top 10 priorities; the national debate on fees and WP
and developments around transnational education; that the format for the 2008-09
External Affairs plan would remain largely consistent with 2007-08 with the addition of
more effective school-based plans and a stronger focus on internationalisation. It was
expected that in 2009-10 we would expect to see significant change.
5.
Marketing and Brand
It was agreed that the portfolio previously assured by Wilfred Emmanuel Jones would
be assimilated within the External Affairs portfolio. It was noted that it may be
appropriate to involve external experts particularly from the alumni base in
developing our brand for the 2009-10 round once we are clearer about our market
position post RAE.
Sean Fielding
April 2008