NEWCASTLE UNIVERSITY
COURT
8 May 2009
Present:
The Chancellor (in the Chair), Pro-Chancellor, Vice-Chancellor, Mrs L Braiden,
Mr NE Braithwaite, Sir Patrick Brown, Professor G Burgess, Sir Peter Carr, Mrs J
J Clubley, Ms M Coyle, Professor EGN Cross, Sir Michael Darrington, Professor
CP Day, Mr A Fenwick, Dr R Hawley, Professor OR Hinton, Lady Irvine, Mr J
Jeffery, Lord Judd of Portsea, Miss FM Kirkby, Dr H Loebl, Mr RH Maudslay,
Judge Mithani, Mrs S Murray, Mr WP Richens, Professor E Ritchie, Sir George
Russell, Mr P Shaw, Mr N Sherlock, Mr HM Shukla, Mrs J Sjøvoll, Professor AC
Stevenson, Mr R Taylor, Professor MJ Whitaker, Professor NG Wright and
Professor PL Younger.
In attendance:
Mr RC Dale (Executive Director of Finance), Dr JV Hogan (Registrar) and
Miss EM Niven (Administrative Officer).
Apologies for absence: Mr AG Balls, The Rt Hon Alan Beith MP, Mr A Bergshaven, Mr J
Edwards, Ms C Galley, Professor EV Haimes, Dr VA Hammond,
Professor C Harvey, Councillor Mick Henry, Mr CJ Hilton, His
Honour Judge David Hodson, Mr PM Johnson, Lord Joicey, The Rt
Rev the Lord Bishop of Newcastle, Dr M Stoppard.
MINUTES
1.
WELCOME
The Chancellor welcomed Mrs JJ Clubley to her first meeting of Court.
2.
RETIRING MEMBERS
The Chancellor thanked the retiring lay and student members for their contribution to the
work of Court.
3.
MINUTES
The Minutes of the meeting held on 6 October 2008 were approved as a correct record
and signed.
4.
DEATH OF MR ARTHUR TAYLOR
Reported the death of Mr Arthur Taylor, CBE, lay member of Court from 1980-2005.
Mr Taylor was a former deputy lieutenant of the County of Tyne and Wear and had
served as a senior partner in the Newcastle law firm, Samuel Phillips and Co for more
than three decades and was a past president of the Newcastle Law Society. He rose to
become Chairman of the National Association of Health Authorities (1984-87), a
member of the General Medical Council, past President of the North of England
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Medico-Legal Society, past Chairman of the Family Conciliation Service for
Northumberland and Tyneside and a member of the National Family Mediation's
management committee. He was also a member of Northumbria Probation Committee
and an honorary solicitor of the United Hebrew Congregation in Newcastle.
Resolved that Court record its deep regret and sympathy for the relatives of Mr Taylor.
Members of Court stood to observe a moment of silence in memory of Mr Taylor.
5.
THE CHANCELLORSHIP
Received an oral report from Mr Jack Jeffery, Chairman of the Chancellorship
Working Group.
Noted that:
6.
1.
Having considered the various suggestions that were submitted for
consideration for the Chancellorship, the working group had identified one
individual who they wished to recommend to the joint meeting of Court and
Senate to be held on 16 June 2009. This individual had been approached and
had indicated that they would be willing to accept the post.
2.
Subject to Court and Senate approving the recommendation, the individual
concerned had requested that the announcement of the appointment be
carefully timed so as not to distract from their ongoing responsibilities.
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)
Court approve the introduction of the title Honorary Life Member.
(ii)
The title of Honorary Life Member be awarded to the following individuals:
Dr R Hawley
Miss F M Kirkby
Dr H Loebl
Mr N Sherlock
Lord Walton of Detchant
(iii)
The following members be re-appointed to serve on Court from 1 August 2009
until 31 July 2012:
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Mr A G Balls
Judge Mithani
The Rt Rev the Lord Bishop of Newcastle
Dr M Ridley
Mr P Shaw
Mr H N Shukla
Dr M Stoppard
(iv)
7.
Court approve the conferment of Honorary Fellowships on the following
candidates at the Honorary Fellowships Dinner and award ceremony to be held
in the autumn of 2009:
Professor Tessa Hedley-Whyte
Alumnus, current Director of
Neuropathology at the Massachusetts
General Hospital and Harvard Medical
School and a 'Scholar in Academy' at the
Harvard Medical School.
Air Commodore Ian H Forster
Alumnus, current Secretary of the
Northumbrian Universities Military
Education Committee. Former Director of
the Careers Advisory Service from 1
November 1987 and then Director of the
Centre for Continuing Education (19892000).
Professor Barrie Scuffham OBE
Alumnus, current Visiting Professor
attached to the Hydrochemical Engineering
Research and Outreach (HERO) Group.
Former Director of Research for Davy
Process Technology.
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.
As a consequence of a good performance in the latest Research Assessment
Exercise, the University was now the 14th highest funded higher education
institution for research in England.
2.
In March 2009, the University had been informed that it was to receive a total
recurrent grant of just over £105m for the 2009-10 academic year. However,
on 6 May, John Denham, the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities
and Skills, had informed HEFCE that its budget for 2010-11 was to be cut by
approximately £180m. The University was yet to learn how this would affect
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the grant allocation that had been announced but it was estimated that it could
be reduced by up to £1m.
3.
Funding received from the Research Councils had exceeded projections. This
was particularly welcome since such grants covered 80% of full economic
costs.
4.
In January 2009, the University had launched its 10-step plan to boost the
regional economy. One of these steps was to increase the number of regional
suppliers used by the University. A business voucher scheme had also been
introduced which had been funded using the University’s VAT saving.
5.
The University had been awarded £12m to establish a digital economy research
hub. The hub, which would be established in conjunction with IBM, Microsoft
and Philips, would aim to promote inclusion in digital technology.
6.
In April 2009, the Angel Alliance, a collaboration between the University,
Durham University and the regional development agency, One North East, had
been successful in securing £2.6 million from the Engineering and Physical
Science Research Council (EPSRC). The grant had been awarded to enable
both universities to harness science and engineering technology which could
ultimately lead to improvements in healthcare. The University had recently
learned that the EPSRC had agreed to provide a further award of £1m for this
project.
7.
The University had secured £488,000 from HEFCE’s Economic Challenge
Investment Fund. The University intended to use the money to fund its plans
to support the regional economy.
8.
There had been a number of recent developments with regard to the Science
City initiative. The three partners, the University, Newcastle City Council and
One North East, had formed the Newcastle Science Company Limited and the
first phase of the developments on the Science Central site had been agreed.
The first building to be constructed would be a Science Gateway building,
which would provide innovation incubator facilities.
9.
The nation was expected to emerge from the recession 5% poorer and with a
fiscal deficit of between 12-14% of GDP. The Government’s priorities were
expected to be to protect schools and hospitals and, as a result, it was
anticipated that there would be less public money available to support higher
education. The University was advised by Court members to plan ahead and to
consider whether it would wish to reduce the money that was available to all
sections of the University or whether certain activities should be discontinued.
10.
Despite the difficult economic climate, international student recruitment
remained buoyant.
11.
The recent decision taken by the members of Executive Board to forego a pay
rise was noted and it was considered important for this to be recognised.
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12.
8.
The reduction in public funding could require the University’s Executive to
make difficult decisions. Members of Court offered their support to the
members of the senior management team during these potentially difficult
times.
ACADEMIC MEMBERSHIP OF COURT
Reported that Mrs Jane Clubley had been appointed by Academic Board to serve on
Court with immediate effect to 31 July 2011, in place of Ms Kathy Wiles.
9.
HONORARY DEGREES COMMITTEE: MEMBERSHIP
Reported that Senate, at its meeting on 13 January 2009, had approved a revised
constitution for the Honorary Degrees Committee which now included one member of
Court, appointed by Court.
Resolved that Court approve Court Steering Committee’s recommendation that Mr
Jeffery be appointed as Court’s representative on the Honorary Degrees Committee to
31 July 2012.
10.
STRATEGIC POSITIONING PROJECT
Reported that:
(a)
Newcastle University was undertaking a strategic positioning project, the
overall aim of which was to improve the University’s reputation, profile and
impact through a clear, consistent and effective approach to the way in which
key messages, core values and successes were articulated.
(b)
Closely aligned to the University’s strategic review process, the strategic
positioning project would help the University to:
 strengthen its brand and marketing impact through the identification and
articulation of a coherent ‘core story’ and associated key messages about
the University, which could be used consistently with benefits both
externally and with internal audiences;
 ensure that there was clarity and agreement about the features of
Newcastle University that differentiated it from other institutions;
 develop and implement a corporate communications and positioning
strategy;
 achieve better internal communication and engagement and foster a
sense of collegiality.
(c)
The University had engaged a consultancy company, Admiral PR, to assist in
the delivery of the strategic positioning project. Various market research and
workshop activities were being undertaken to assess the perceptions and views
of a number of key stakeholders, and the opinions of members of Court were
very important in this context.
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(d)
The second part of the meeting consisted of three 'breakout' groups, each led
by a colleague from Admiral PR, which gave Court members an opportunity
directly to influence the outcomes of the project.
Received:
The Vice-Chancellor's Strategic Overview Document: Vision 2021, which had
recently been considered by Senate and Council and which would form the
background to the discussions.
[Circulated with the agenda as Document D. Copy filed in the Minute Book.]
Noted that:
11.
1.
The Strategic Overview Document: Vision 2021, had been prepared via an
iterative process and various groups within the University had contributed to
its development. Court members had been issued with the final version which
had been approved by Council at the end of March.
2.
The document was intended to clarify the University’s position for internal
purposes initially, but it would also be used to inform documents that would be
prepared for an external audience.
3.
The document aimed to identify how the University could increase its
connection with civil society via its response to a number of societal challenge
themes. It was necessary to identify a match between the University’s areas of
expertise and the societal challenge themes as this would help to establish the
University’s distinctiveness.
4.
Linked with the strategic overview document was the issue of positioning the
University in the world in the way it wanted to be seen. The strategic
positioning project was intended to assess how close the University was to
achieving its vision.
5.
The project was currently at the information gathering stage and various events
were being organised which were intended to increase understanding of
internal and external perceptions of the University. The information gathered
would form the baseline evidence and it would be analysed in order to identify
key themes.
MEDIA UPDATES
Reported that:
(a)
Council had recently passed a motion asking that its members automatically
receive significant press releases at the point of their release to the media.
Members who did not wish to receive such documents were asked to inform
the Registrar.
(b)
Members of Court had received an email regarding this proposal.
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Agreed that Court members should also receive media updates.
12.
ANY OTHER BUSINESS
Reported that:
(a)
The Chancellor would be giving a Public Lecture, which would take place at
5.30pm on Monday 6 July 2009, to which all members of Court were invited.
(b)
There would be a farewell reception for the Chancellor on Tuesday 7 July
2009, to which all members of Court were invited.
(c)
Invitations for both of these events would follow in due course.
Noted that:
13.
1.
This was the Chancellor’s last formal meeting.
2.
The Chancellor had demonstrated considerable élan and humour when
presiding at degree ceremonies which added to the joyous atmosphere for the
graduands and their families.
3.
The Chancellor’s thoughtful and careful approach to issues had helped to
stimulate new ideas and Court expressed its thanks to him for his considerable
endeavours on behalf of the University over the past 10 years.
MEETINGS 2009-10
Reported that meetings of Court in the forthcoming academic year would be held on:
 Tuesday 16 June 2009 at 2.00pm
Special joint meeting with Senate to make a
recommendation to Convocation on the
appointment of a Chancellor.
ONE FROM:
 Thursday 1 October 2009 at 11.00am
 Thursday 19 November 2009 at 11.00am
 Thursday 26 November 2009 at 11.00am
On the date selected in the Autumn:
 A programme of visits (details to be confirmed) would be available for members of
Court.
 A buffet luncheon would be provided at 12.30 pm.
 The Honorary Fellowships Dinner would take place in the evening at 6.30 for 7.00
pm.
 Friday 16 April 2010 at 10.30am
Noted that the proposed dates for meetings of Court during 2009/10 would be subject to
the availability of the new Chancellor, when appointed.
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