NEWCASTLE UNIVERSITY
COURT
16 APRIL 2010
Present: The Chancellor (in the Chair), Chairman of Council and Pro-Chancellor,
Vice-Chancellor, Mr A Balls, Mr N E Braithwaite, Sir Peter Carr, Mrs J J
Clubley, Ms M Coyle, Professor EGN Cross, Ms A Georgiou, Ms J
Henderson, Councillor M Henry, Professor O R Hinton, Mr PM Johnson,
Lord Joicey, Lord Judd of Portsea, Miss F M Kirkby, The Rt Rev the Lord
Bishop of Newcastle, Professor E Ritchie, Sir George Russell, Mr H M
Shukla, Lord Walton of Detchant, Professor M J Whitaker, and Professor P
L Younger.
In attendance: Mr R C Dale (Executive Director of Finance), Dr J V Hogan
(Registrar), Miss E M Niven (Administrative Officer) and Professor P
Watson (for item 6).
1.
MINUTES
The Minutes of the meeting held on 8 December 2009 were approved as a
correct record and signed.
2.
NEW YEAR HONOURS 2010
Reported:
That Dr Miriam Stoppard, lay member of Court, was awarded the OBE in the
New Year Honours List for 2010.
Resolved:
That Court record its congratulations to Dr Stoppard.
3.
REPORTS FROM COURT STEERING COMMITTEE
Considered:
(a)
First Report from Court Steering Committee.
(b)
Second Report from Court Steering Committee.
(Circulated with the Agenda as Documents B and C.
Copies filed in the Minute Book)
Resolved that:
(i)
The following individuals be re-appointed to serve on Court from 1
August 2010 until 31 July 2013:
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The Rt Hon Alan Beith MP
Mr A Bergshaven
Sir Patrick Brown
Sir Peter Carr
Sir Michael Darrington
Mr J Edwards
Ms C Galley
Councillor M Henry
Lord Judd
Mr R H Maudslay
Sir George Russell
Mr R Taylor
4.
(ii)
Mr Daniel Goldman be appointed as a new lay member of Court from 1
August 2010 until 31 July 2013
(iii)
Court approve the conferment of Honorary Fellowships on the following
candidates at the Honorary Fellowships Dinner and award ceremony to be
held on 11 October 2010:
Mr Chris Hilton
Former lay member of Court and Council.
Vice-Chairman of Council 2005-2009.
Chairman of the Working Party on the
Effectiveness of Council (2000-01), Working
Party on the size and composition of Senate
and Council (2002), Working Group on
Governance (2005).
Dr Lorna Rozner
Graduated with an MBBS in 1947 and a
Diploma in Public Health in 1951. One of the
original Graduates Association Members in the
1980s and a regular attendee and Committee
Member of the North of England Branch
meetings.
VICE-CHANCELLOR’S BUSINESS
Received a report from the Vice-Chancellor on current issues within the
University.
(Paper tabled at the meeting. Copy filed in the Minute Book.)
Noted that:
1.
It was the University’s mission to be a first-class, research-intensive
institution and recent reports in the press demonstrated that it was
achieving this aim. Research into the inherited disorder, mitochondrial
disease, had led to the University being the first to transfer successfully
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DNA between two human fertilised eggs, which had been described by
eminent scientists as a ‘cutting-edge’ breakthrough.
2.
The University had been awarded the Queen’s Anniversary Prize for its
world-leading work in the field of ageing and health. The ViceChancellor, together with the Chancellor and the Chairman of Council
and Pro-Chancellor attended a ceremony at Buckingham Palace on 19
February to receive the award.
3.
During the last academic year the University had succeeded in
increasing the amount of funding it received from the Research
Councils. The University was placed 8th in the UK in terms of the
overall income it received from the Research Councils and when
calculated per FTE member of staff, the University was second only to
Imperial College.
4.
Since it opened in May 2009 the Great North Museum had received
over 800,000 visitors which significantly exceeded the target it had
been set for its first year of operation.
5.
2010 was the year of the ‘Changing Age’ Societal Challenge Theme
and the public had been invited to sign up to the Changing Age
Charter, which had been launched on 23 March.
6.
Sustainability had been chosen as the next Societal Challenge Theme,
to be launched in 2011. Sustainability was an area in which the
University could demonstrate a number of advances, particularly in the
area of low carbon vehicle technology. Later in the year the University
was to launch the Newcastle Institute for Research on Sustainability
(NIReS) which would provide the focal point for the launch and
development of the Sustainability theme.
7.
The University had recently been audited by the Quality Assurance
Agency for Higher Education (QAA) which had resolved that confidence
could be placed in the soundness of the University’s management of
academic standards and in the management of the quality of the
learning opportunities available to students. The University had also
received commendations for its research-led teaching and the
employability of its graduates.
8.
The University had recently welcomed the first cohort of medical
students from Malaysia. These students would complete their first two
years on the Newcastle campus before returning to Malaysia to finish
the course at the University’s branch campus in Johor.
9.
Negotiations with the Singapore Ministry of Education had recently
been completed and a partnership between the University and the
Singapore Institute of Technology had been agreed. This partnership
would result in an increase of the University’s operations in Singapore
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and would replace the partnership previously established with Ngee
Ann Polytechnic.
10.
5.
Court members were informed that two of the University’s researchers,
Hannah Aiken and Grainne Gorman, had received the Neurology
Resident and Fellow Award at the American Academy of Neurology
Awards Luncheon on 14 April 2010. The award was for the best
scientific paper as judged by the journal Neurology. Lord Walton, who
had been present at the ceremony, agreed to forward details to the
Registrar.
VICE-CHANCELLOR’S QUESTIONS
Received from Court Steering Committee:
‘The cuts to the Government’s budget for Higher Education have been
well publicised. What action has been taken to minimise the impact of
the reduction in public funding at Newcastle University?’
(Paper tabled at the meeting. Copy filed in the Minute Book).
Noted that:
1.
The University had received its provisional grant letter from the Higher
Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) on 12 March. The
letter had confirmed that the University’s total recurrent grant allocation
for 2010-11 would be £104.3m, a year on year cash reduction of £1.0m
or 0.97%. This reduction was within the University’s expectations and
had been factored into the budget. The reduction in the University’s
grant was mainly due to the removal of the old and historic buildings
allocation. Further cuts in government funding were anticipated
following the General Election.
2.
The University’s general approach to the reduction in its finances would
be to earn more, spend less and to increase the efficiency of its
operations. It would also continue to invest in areas of strength.
3.
Increasing the number of international students would help the
University to increase the amount of unregulated income it received.
Enrolments of international students had increased by more than 20%
during the current academic year. The University intended to reduce
expenditure by encouraging staff to follow updated guidelines when
purchasing travel and to reduce the amount spent on external
consultancy. The One University project would seek to bring about
efficiencies by avoiding the duplication of activities across the
University. Procurement was one area where it was hoped significant
efficiencies could be achieved. It was also anticipated that savings
could be generated by streamlining the research grant application
process.
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4.
Resources would be channelled into the Societal Challenge Themes
which would highlight the University’s areas of strength.
5.
Due to the pressures on public finances, the increase in home student
numbers witnessed in recent years was not expected to continue.
Institutions which had borrowed on the basis of future growth were
expected to face a number of challenges. Newcastle’s business plan
was not based on the expectation of future increases in home student
numbers. It also had good cash balances and had generated strong
surplus in past years and therefore did not need to implement any
strong measures to maintain its position.
6.
The University hoped to increase the amount of funding it received
from European sources as the funding streams available were closely
aligned with the Societal Challenge Themes. There was also
considered to be room for growth in areas of commercial activity such
as conferences, continuing professional development courses and
consultancy.
7.
The University’s surpluses for 2009-10 and 2010-11 were expected to
be similar to those achieved in recent years and 2011-12 would be the
first year in which the full effects of the reduction in funding would be
felt.
8.
The Chairman of Council and Pro-Chancellor confirmed that Council
was keeping the University’s financial position under close review. The
University was considered to be in a good position in comparison to
many other institutions but it was important to guard against
complacency.
9.
The research-led teaching which the University offered was considered
to be essential for its future development. It was suggested that times
of financial stringency could often provide opportunities and it was
important for the University to be clear of the areas it intended to
prioritise.
10.
It was suggested that opportunities to capitalise financially on the
research undertaken by the University should be explored. The
Business Development Directorate was in the process of being
restructured in order to better assist staff with the commercialisation of
research. It was noted, however, that even the most successful
universities struggled to generate more than 2-3% of their turnover
from the commercialisation of their research.
11.
It was confirmed that the University had achieved its targets for
home/EU students for entry in 2009. The targets had not been
exceeded and no student who had received an offer had been turned
away.
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12.
6.
At present the international student population was considered to be in
the region of 17%. The University had no plans to introduce a cap on
international students as the numbers of students that could be
accepted varied from one academic unit to another. There was still
considered to be room for growth in the number of international
students but there were a number of capacity issues which would
impose a limit of future growth.
‘SOCIAL INCLUSION IN THE DIGITAL ECONOMY’
Reported that in 2009, the University received £12M EPSRC funding to host
one of three digital technology research hubs. Newcastle University is
working with Microsoft, IBM and Philips to establish a major research centre
to bring the benefits of digital technology to more people. When announcing
the grant in 2009, Lord Drayson, Minister for Science and Innovation,
announced that three new research “hubs”, based at Newcastle, Nottingham
and Aberdeen universities, would develop digital technology aimed at
transforming the lives of the elderly, disabled, and people in rural
communities.
Received:
(a)
A briefing paper prepared by Professor Paul Watson of the School of
Computing Science, summarising the main aims and progress of the
project.
(Circulated with the Agenda as Document D – Copy filed in the Minute Book)
(b)
A presentation from Professor Watson on the above project.
(Copies of slides filed in the Minute Book)
Following the presentation three break-out groups discussed aspects of the
project as follows:
How can the "Social Inclusion through the Digital Economy Hub"
maximise its impact on:
1. The Digital Economy?
2. The University?
3. The Region?
Noted that:
1.
The research undertaken by the Social Inclusion through the Digital
Economy project (SiDE) aimed to use technology to transform lives. A
multi-disciplinary team had been established to address the
technological, social and economic challenges which prevented some
groups from participating in the Digital Economy.
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2.
Initially, the project would focus on four areas; accessibility, connected
home & society, transport and creative industries. Each research area
would be considered from technological, social, economic perspectives
and also from the position of the end users.
3.
The Connected Home & Society research area aimed to establish how
pervasive technologies could be used to allow people to stay longer in
their own homes. The initial stages of the research had involved the
development of an ‘ambient kitchen’ which used existing technology to
help individuals perform specific tasks. It was suggested that the cost
of installing such a kitchen could be prohibitive for some, however, it
could prove to be a more cost-effective option when compared with the
cost of providing sheltered accommodation.
The costs of the
development and production of such technology could also be crosssubsidised by identifying wider applications and making it available to
other user groups.
4.
It was suggested that the project team should consider approaching
Walkergate Park Hospital which specialised in the provision of
rehabilitation services for older patients. The technology that was
being developed was considered to be useful for occupational
therapists and the team could also consider approaching Northumbria
University which offered occupational therapy courses.
5.
It was suggested that the older generation could find new technology
daunting and efforts should be made to simplify access to new
products and innovations. The SiDE project involved the University
working with Dundee University who were undertaking research into
accessibility.
6.
Language barriers were identified as another area where the
technology being developed could have useful applications. The
research team had identified this as a future application but were keen
to avoid mission creep in the early stages of the project. The ambient
kitchen had the potential to be used to assist with task-based language
learning.
7.
The importance of working with other universities and with local
authorities was emphasised. The Institute for Local Governance was
suggested as another body which could be approached.
Resolved that Professor Watson be thanked for his informative presentation.
The notes from the three discussion groups are attached as an appendix.
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7.
MEETINGS 2010-11
Reported that:
(a)
Meetings of Court in the forthcoming academic year will be held on:
Tuesday 12 October 2010 at 10.30am
Friday 13 May 2011 at 10.30am
(b)
This year’s Honorary Fellowship Awards Dinner will be held on Monday
11 October 2010.
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Appendix
Notes from the three discussions group on the Social Inclusion in the Digital
Economy (SIDE) Project.
Discussion Group 1 - How can the Social Inclusion through the Digital
Economy Hub maximise its impact on the digital economy?
Facilitated by Professor Feng Li, Professor of E-business Development, Business
School.
Present: The Chancellor, Vice Chancellor, Sir Peter Carr, Prof Oliver Hinton, Dr John
Hogan, Lord Frank Judd and Sir George Russell.
General discussion points:
1.
People in socially excluded groups tend to have more limited skills and
experiences with digital technologies and services, so it is important to
develop and deploy interfaces other than personal computers for digital
access.
2.
The project team should identify real examples where simple technologies
could be used to monitor elderly people's health regularly, which can help
older people to stay at home independently for longer.
3.
Some excluded groups such as the elderly might not possess the skills to use
digital services such as online shopping so simplifying the
interface/technology is critical.
4.
Digital technologies are speeding up the pace of life considerably but are
often not sensitive to the needs of the elderly or the disabled. Simple
common sense is needed in guiding the development of new digital
technologies and services.
5.
Two critical issues need to be addressed. One is accessibility and interface.
We need to think about how to engage with the socially excluded. The
second is sustainability (in connected homes, if the diary knows you will be
out of the house for a few hours, then the heating might be automatically
turned down), which often requires social and behavioural changes. In
addition, access to social services, which is often overly complex, needs to be
simplified.
6.
Young people from the poorest background often have access to mobile
phones and other digital technologies; the challenge is how to get the older
people from poorer background to access digital services. There are three
ways to do this easily in the UK: TV; Radio; Lottery machines. Even the
poorest have access to all three which can become interfaces for digital
services for the socially excluded. The successful ‘TV for the blind’ service
provided by Granada was cited as an example.
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7.
In terms of access to digital services, a distinction needs to be made between
the older and younger users. For young people, mobile phones are the
devices used most widely to access a broad range of digital services.
Discussion Group 2 – How can the Social inclusion through the Digital
Economy Hub maximise its impact on the University?
Facilitated by Professor Paul Watson, Professor of Computing Science.
Present: Mrs Jane Clubley, Ms Andi Georgiou, Ms Jacqui Henderson, Miss Florence
Kirkby, Professor Ella Ritchie, Professor Michael Whitaker and Lord Walton.
General discussion points:
1.
The SiDE project itself is taking into account the needs of the visually and
hearing impaired groups and it was noted that the University Library has
specific facilities available for both groups.
2.
It would be useful for Professor Watson to attend Diversity Committee
meetings to link the project and the work of the Committee together. In
general the University’s services (e.g. Library, Computing, and
Accommodation) are disability-friendly and specific cases are dealt with
separately.
3.
It is important to consider the broader question of how much the University,
rather than just certain key people, is engaged with the ‘Social Inclusion’
‘Changing Age’ and ‘Sustainability’ initiatives. In addition it would be useful to
know how the University represents itself to the socially excluded. The ideal
is to be equally open to all groups but there are major resource implications.
In addition it should be noted that the University makes adjustments with
regard to social inclusion as far as possible within the constraints of a campus
with many old buildings.
4.
The project team tests its research in a number of ways. It can draw upon a
pool of 3,000 users, involving them from the start in order to help steer the
research. Prototypes are being developed, e.g. a car will soon be purchased
to act as a simulator so that users can test out aids to keep people driving
longer. The University will then go into partnership with representatives from
the public and private sectors in order to roll the designs out more widely.
5.
It was suggested that a recent survey carried out by the Centre for Ageing
and Health may provide volunteers from the appropriate age range. It was
confirmed that a large proportion of the users for the project came from
Professor Jim Edwardson’s ‘Years Ahead’ group.
6.
It was noted that there used to be a service whereby visually impaired
students could ask other students to take notes for them and perhaps this
would offer an opportunity within the project research. It was confirmed that
the current software loan scheme should deal with such issues.
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7.
The planned major development of the Union Society provided an opportunity
for some of the outcomes of the research to be embedded in the early
planning stages.
8.
It was important to use the techniques developed through the research to fill
gaps. For instance driving assistance should not be required for the majority
of older drivers as they are entitled to free eye tests to assess their suitability
to drive. An important lesson to take away from the discussion group was that
we need to apply the outcomes of the project to all those with impairments,
not only the elderly but also the student population.
9.
It will be important to raise aspirations with regard to social inclusion in
schools. Professor Ritchie is currently leading a national project entitled
‘Realising Opportunities’ which focuses on e-mentoring.
10.
The Culture Lab houses a real working laboratory which provides an exciting
environment for all ages. The project group involves a variety of groups to
help build and develop some of the project material (e.g. digital jewellery). At
a recent Schools Fair in Bolton a laser cutter was available to transfer young
participants’ designs on to jewellery.
11.
It is important in a research-intensive university to feed in ideas to other work
already in progress. There would be a better impact with more involvement
from as many staff as possible.
12.
It can be a huge frustration that projects are presented at various fora outside
the University but are not always communicated well to our own staff and
students. We need to communicate better not only with academic but also
with service units.
13.
It is important for the social inclusion project to include the practical
identification of things which impact on our current disabled students.
Consultation of this kind could be targeted through Union Society focus
groups.
14.
It could also be important to share the aims and outcomes of the project with
the Careers Service as a means of taking valuable research beyond the
University through its graduating students. A good example of how this could
be done was an event taking place on the evening of the Court meeting. This
was organised jointly by the Development and Alumni Relations Office and
the Careers Service for graduates of the last decade. The project could be
highlighted at future such events. A good reputation for inclusivity would be
an important recruitment aid. While this is a good goal to have it is difficult to
manage, particularly in view of the many different methods of entry to
universities. It is the sort of thing we should embed by making it an
institutional goal.
15.
If we were to identify one practical thing which could help not only our own
students, but also those in other universities, it could be a very powerful
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positive outcome of the project. It would certainly mean that students with
disabilities would want to come to the University if they were better catered
for. Open Days can show current limitations in this area. We need to build on
the work of the Cross-Services Disability Working Group. They are planning
to have separate open days for the disabled.
Discussion Group 3 - How can the Social inclusion through the Digital
Economy Hub maximise its impact on the Region?
Facilitated by Mr Ranald Richardson, Principal Research Associate, Centre for
Urban and Regional Development Studies.
Present: Mr Alastair Balls, Mr Neil Braithwaite, Ms Mary Coyle, Professor Eric Cross,
Mr Richard Dale, Mrs Olivia Grant, Lord Joicey, The Rt Rev the Lord Bishop of
Newcastle, Mr Hari Shukla and Professor Paul Younger.
General discussion points:
1.
It was necessary to prepare a strategy to engage with the communities that
were hard to reach. It was not always easy to reach the groups that would
most benefit for the available technology. As a starting point, the research
group should try to involve older or disabled people and then seek to build the
engagement with other groups from this.
2.
Migrant and refugee communities were identified amongst the harder to reach
groups. It was suggested that it might be possible to engage these groups by
providing them with a method of connecting with other people from their home
community based in the region. Technology could provide a means of
relating to other local communities and to those ‘back home’.
3.
It was considered important to identify key people in each community and to
engage them in the first instance. Generating interest amongst people who
appreciate the technology and then, through them, trying to reach and interest
others who might be more sceptical, was suggested as a means of increasing
engagement.
4.
Certain rural areas had limited access to broadband and internet connections
and it was therefore considered important not to underestimate the
importance of going out and meeting people.
5.
It was suggested that the University should use its contacts to put pressure on
organisations such as One North East to improve broadband access.
6.
Efforts should be made to counter the progressive transfer of activities and
powers from the local authorities to the regional capitals. It was noted that
supposedly affluent rural areas also included areas affected by poverty.
7.
The possibility of using a single office to improve utilities infrastructure,
including broadband, was suggested. This would enable improvements to be
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made to broadband access at the same time as work to improve the gas,
electricity and water infrastructure was undertaken.
8.
The University should consider how it engaged with communities. Increasing
the number of tasks that were performed on-line could serve to further isolate
certain groups.
9.
Efforts should be made to engage with local disability groups such as the
Newcastle Society for Blind People. Court members were invited to send
suggestions of other groups that the SiDE project should seek to engage with
to Mr Richardson (Ranald.Richardson@newcastle.ac.uk).
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