UNIVERSITY OF EXETER
STRATEGY, PERFORMANCE AND RESOURCES COMMITTEE
DUAL ASSURANCE REPORT: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Item Description
Considerations/Evidence/ Decision/Recommendation (with reasons)
Consultation
External Affairs Plan
Considered progress towards
meeting External Affairs Plan
Implem
enter
Identified the following important areas of activity that are at risk of noncompletion.
DA Meeting
21 April 2008
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 main body of work is
around the ESI project. Work on this is now being directed by the DVC
Resources.
DVC R
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
Further
Information
SF
Dawn
Lees/
Robin
Jackson/
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 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.
Steve
Gaskin
Holly
Peterson
Ian
Hodges
Heidi
Hallam
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.
Stephen
Cooper
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.
Paul
Tiltman
Middle East
Consideration of report on
Dubai visit
CSR
Consideration of report from
BITC consultants on
University submission on
CSR.
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.
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.
John
Withringt
on
Heidi
Hallam/
SF
DA Meeting
21 April 2008
SF/ Rob
Mitchell
DA Meeting
21 April 2008
SF/NA
DA Meeting
21 April 2008
DA Meeting
21 April 2008
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.
University
Progress
Website
on the –weConsideration of progress
report by the Task and Finish
Group.
External Affairs Plan Consideration of external and
2008-09
internal environment
including: 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;
Progress was welcomed and 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.
Agreed 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.