COUNCIL: 28 OCTOBER 2013
VICE-CHANCELLOR’S BUSINESS
1.
2.
Deaths
8 September 2013
Miss Joyce Banks. Miss Banks joined the University in July 2001 as
Secretary in the Medical Student Office and moved to the
Accommodation and Hospitality Service Unit as Support
Receptionist/Clerk in March 2003.
21 September 2013
Emeritus Professor Pratyush Sen. Professor Sen joined the
University as Lecturer in the Department of Naval Architecture and
Shipbuilding in September 1979. From August 1995 he served as
Head of Department of Marine Technology and was appointed to
the Chair of Marine Design and Construction in February 1996.
Professor Sen was accorded the title of Emeritus Professor upon his
retirement in February 2009.
28 September 2013
Emeritus Professor Robert Clark. Professor Clark was appointed as
Chair of Zoology on 1 January 1966, and was accorded the title of
Emeritus Professor upon his retirement in October 1989.
14 October 2013
Anders Olsson. Anders was a post graduate Exchange Student in
the School of Geography, Politics and Sociology.
Updates, Consultations and Reports
2.1
Report on Executive Board business.
I have attached my report on business considered by Executive Board between 10
September and 15 October 2013.
Appendix 1
2.2
Executive Board Responsibilities 2013-14
The updated version of the Executive Board Responsibilities document for 2013-14 is
attached. The document has been enlarged to map out responsibilities regarding
regional engagement.
Appendix 2
2.3
Going for Growth
“Going for growth ” is a substantive strategic item on today’s Council agenda.
Richard Dale, the Executive Board member leading on this topic, will be sharing
Executive Board’s initial thoughts on the case for growth.
2.4
Director of Science City
Fiona Standfield has been appointed as the Director of Science City. She will take up
her post in November, joining the organisation for a three year term, bringing more than
20 years’ experience in high-profile and board level roles across the public and private
sectors.
As Science City Director she will take on the lead role in delivering Newcastle Science
City’s ambitious aims to advance the cause of the city and the wider region as a driving
force for science excellence and industry, including the successful delivery of Science
Central.
Fiona previously worked at Royal Mail where she was Business Implementation and
Delivery Director and she currently runs her own consultancy firm.
3.
Learning and Teaching
3.1
Massive open online courses (MOOCs)
From September next year Newcastle University will begin to offer Massive Open Online
Courses (MOOCS). We have signed an agreement to team up with FutureLearn, the
UK's first multi-institution provider of open higher education courses.
There has been a lot of media interest in MOOCs in the past few weeks with several
more world-class universities announcing their involvement with FutureLearn, adding to
the already prestigious group of higher education institutions and other organisations.
Our partnership with FutureLearn, who are leaders in the UK in this emerging field, will
allow us to expand our existing suite of online programmes with the launch of two
MOOCs in 2014.
FutureLearn is a private company wholly owned by the Open University, with the benefit
of over 40 years of their experience in distance learning and online education. Their
partners include over 20 of the best UK and international universities, as well as
institutions with a huge archive of cultural and educational material, including the British
Council, the British Library, and the British Museum
This opportunity will allow Newcastle University to be seen as being at the forefront of
digital development, as well as helping support our international strategy by enhancing
the global reach of our learning.
Newcastle University started delivering online programmes over ten years ago and we
now offer a number of health-related courses ranging from clinical trials to oncology. We
have also recently launched a programme in ageing, one of our Societal Challenge
Themes. The venture into MOOCs will enable us to reach new audiences to give them a
taste of Newcastle’s wide-ranging subject expertise.
The other recent higher education partners to join FutureLearn are the University of
Liverpool and the University of Auckland in New Zealand. The organisation has also just
started working with its first business sponsor BT, the UK's major provider of
telecommunications networks and services.
4.
Research
4.1
Major Investment in Arts and Humanities Postgraduate Research at Newcastle
University, Durham University and Queen’s University Belfast
Newcastle University, Durham University and Queen’s University Belfast are to receive a
total of £11.2 million from the Arts and Humanities Research Council to establish the
Northern Bridge Doctoral Training Partnership to develop the next generation of doctoral
researchers. The Partnership, co-ordinated by Newcastle University, has been awarded
157 fully-funded PhD studentships, which represents over six per cent of the total
number of AHRC studentships awarded nationally.
2
The universities are collaborating with high-profile partners from the media, museums
and heritage sector, and the creative economy, including The Sage Gateshead, the
Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art, Tyne and Wear Archives and Museums, Seven
Stories, Durham Cathedral, The Bowes Museum and New Writing North. They will give
the students access to their impressive archives and collections for mutually beneficial
research, while the students will also benefit from training opportunities and placements
at some of the country’s leading cultural organisations.
In these difficult times, when funding for many arts organisations is under pressure, this
is a real vote of confidence in the Arts and Humanities at Newcastle University and will
bring real benefits to the arts and cultural sector in the North East of England.
5.
Internal Matters
5.1
Celebrating Success
We held a “Celebrating Success” event on Recruitment on the 16th October, to say thank
you to all involved in our best ever student registration numbers
5.2
Visit Day – 28 September 2013
The Visit Day on 28 September was extremely successful, with over 15,500 attendees,
including 6,100 students. I have written to the staff responsible for organising the Visit
Day to express my thanks and appreciation.
5.3 Partnership with Monash relaunch
We have recently re-launched our strategic partnership with Monash University as part
of our Internationalisation strategy. Newcastle and Monash Universities share important
characteristics. Both are members of their respective leading national university
groupings (the Russell Group and the Group of Eight) reflecting their strong commitment
to research excellence and research led-teaching. Both were founded with a focus on
science and technology. Both compete effectively in their countries and understand the
need to develop innovative and collaborative programmes to succeed in a highly
competitive environment. Both are international in their perspectives, with a particular
interest in South-East Asia (both organisations have campuses in Malaysia). Both
understand the importance of the quality of the experience they give to their students,
and the need to be relevant to the civic environment in which they operate. Important
opportunities have been identified where strategic links could provide substantial added
value to both organisations.
Four areas for collaborative working have been identified based on existing links, the
priorities of the two organisations and an assessment of areas of joint working, currently
focussed within Medical Sciences.
5.4 Industrial Action
UNISON, UCU and Unite all recently balloted their members for industrial action in
response to the final pay offer of 1% plus joint work on gender pay and casual work.
All three unions have voted in favour of strike action. UCU have also voted in favour of
action short of strike.
The University has been notified that a joint strike day will be held on 31st October. UCU
have advised that its members will ‘work to contract’ from 1st November.
3
I will ask the Executive Director of HR to update members of Council at the meeting.
6. External Matters
4.1
Times Higher League Table
Newcastle University was ranked 198th in the world by the latest Times Higher Education
rankings. I will update Council on Reputation and Rankings activities at the meeting.
4.2
British Science Festival
Executive Board has formally recorded its thanks and appreciation to staff on the
success of the British Science Festival. Particular thanks were recorded to the Deputy
Vice-Chancellor and the Engagement team. The DVC in turn conveyed her thanks to
the support services, notably the Estate Support Service and Information Systems and
Services.
4.3 Martin Luther King Event at the American Embassy
The Deputy Vice-Chancellor attended an event at the American Embassy on 6
September to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Martin Luther King’s ‘I have a
dream’ speech. This was a good profile raising event for the University and the DVC
had the opportunity to meet the American ambassador.
4.4 Political Party Conferences
For the first time this year, the University hosted events at all three mainstream political
party conferences, seizing the opportunity to engage senior politicians in a dialogue
about our work to address global problems through our societal challenge themes of
Ageing, Social Renewal and Sustainability.
Regional development expert, Professor John Goddard, joined the Labour party
conference in Brighton to argue that there are strong incentives for universities to
strengthen partnerships with their local communities in order to deliver widening
participation, to enhance the student experience and employment opportunities, and to
demonstrate the impact of research. Newcastle Central MP and Shadow Minister for the
Cabinet Office, Chi Onwurah, chaired the debate, with panel members including and
Gareth Thomas MP, Shadow Minister for Civil Society, and Gordon Marsden MP,
Shadow Minister for Further Education, Skills and Regional Growth.
Discussing wellbeing in later life in the company of the Minister for Universities and
Science, David Willetts, two of our experts in ageing, Professor Tom Kirkwood and Dr
Lynne Corner, outlined how future policy needs to be informed by ground-breaking
research such as the Newcastle 85+ study, because too much is based on out-of-date
misconceptions. The unique study examines the health of more than 1,000 people from
Newcastle and North Tyneside born in 1921. They called for the same ingenuity that has
increased the average UK lifespan by five hours each day of the last century to be put
into efforts to make the most of the new reality of an ageing population.
4.5
LEP Strategic Economic Plan
Each LEP has to submit a Strategic Economic Plan to BIS, that being a prerequisite for
drawing down European Structural Funds. The Witty Report (Sir Andrew Witty, CEO of
GlaxoSmithKline and Chancellor of Nottingham University) on Universities and Growth
4
published on 15 October argued i.a. that Universities should be at the heart of LEP
economic planning. In our case this is already in place.
 Our Visiting Goldman Professor Roy Sandbach leads on the LEP Open
Innovation agenda
 Experts from CURDS are involved in the advisory panel for the Strategic
Economic Plan
 Richard Dale contributes to the skills agenda
 We have seconded two staff members to the LEP for the purpose of writing the
Strategic Economic Plan
 I am a member of the LEP Board sub-panel responsible for the Strategic
Economic Plan.
7. Late News
Updates on items received after this report goes to press will be reported at the meeting.
8. Early warnings
Any early warnings will be brought to Council’s attention at the meeting.
Professor Chris Brink
Vice-Chancellor
21 October 2013
5
Appendix 1
Executive Board business considered between 10 September and 15 October 2013
September
1. N8
2. Newcastle into London
3. MOOCS Futurelearn
4. Strategic Partnership with Xiamen
5. Annual Financial Reports
6. Postgraduate Applications 1 September 2013
7. Dean of Postgraduate Studies in SAgE
October
8. Implementing NUIT
9. Annual Financial Reports
10. Project Management Report for July 2013
11. Value for Money Annual Report
12. Charitable Status Report for Council
13. Strategic Case for a New Reader in Chemistry
14. Internationalisation Strategy Review
15. Engagement Strategy Review
16. PR Strategy Review
17. Monash
18. Council meeting 28 October
19. Institutional KPI Summary for Council
20. Going for Growth
21. Science Central Business Plan
22. Defence Technical Undergraduate Scheme (DTUS) : InService Degrees and MOU
23. Student recruitment update
24. Executive Board Responsibilities 2013-14
25. Project Management report for August 2013
PVC R&I
PVC P&R
PVC L&T
DVC/PVC H&SS
Executive Director of Finance
PVC L&T
PVC SAgE
Registrar
Executive Director of Finance
Executive Director of Finance
Registrar
Registrar
PVC SAgE
DVC
DVC
DVC
DVC
Registrar
PVC P&R
Executive Director of Finance
PVC SAgE
PVC SAgE
PVC L&T
VC
Executive Director of Finance
Ruth Draper Secretary to EB
21 October 2013
6
NEWCASTLE UNIVERSITY EXECUTIVE BOARD: RESPONSIBILITIES 2013-14
Chris Brink
18 October 2013
PORTFOLIO
RECURRENT
RESPONSIBILITIES
PROJECT
RESPONSIBILITIES
VC
Chief Accountable Officer
Chief Academic Officer
Chief Executive Officer
Strategic Planning




Raising the Bar
Growth Initiative 2017: Sponsor
Succession planning: Engagement & Internationalisation
LEP Strategic Economic Plan
DVC
International Collaborations
Internal engagement
Alumni relations
Great North Museum
Corporate social responsibility





Lead on physical presence at Xiamen (+ PVC HaSS)
USA Strategy (+PVC HaSS)
Engagement map
Portfolio of civic interaction case studies
Realising Opportunities
PVC (P&R)
Integration of EB responsibilities
Planning & Resources
Institutional data
Special projects
Environmental sustainability
Ethics
Estate strategy
INTO
Research and Innovation
Commercialisation
Science City / Science Central
Angel Alliance
N8
HEIF







Richardson Road development
Digital Campus Initiative
Rankings/League Tables analyses
Armstrong Building
Lead on Shared services (+ ED Fin)
Into London
BIS Secondment
REF submission
Innovation focus (post-REF)
N8 focus
Portfolio of industry partnerships
Lead on Student Entrepreneurship (+ PVC L&T)
RES leadership (Registrar leads)
Consolidate Student Recruitment (Registrar leads)
Skills agenda
Student Entrepreneurship (PVC R&I leads)
Lead on CPD (+ ED Fin)
MOOCs
PVC (L&T)
Learning and teaching
All student recruitment
Student experience and achievement
Widening participation
Quality Assurance











PVC (FMS)
Faculty leadership and management
 Reputation & Rankings
PVC (R&I)
LINE MANAGEMENT
PVCs
Registrar
M AIN FUNCTIONAL
INTERACTION
Head of Executive Office
Executive Director of Finance
Executive Director of HR
Director of PR
Director of PR
Director of DARO
Director of M&C
Head of International Office
Director of RES
Dean of Culture
SCT Leaders
Faculties
Director of Planning
Executive Director of Finance
Director of Estates
Faculties
Director of RES
Research Office
SCT Leaders
Science City Theme Leaders
Faculties
Academic Registrar
Director of M&C
Head of International Office
(To be consolidated: Recruitment
Office)
Students’ Union
Faculties
Faculty staff
Vice-Chancellor
PORTFOLIO
RECURRENT
RESPONSIBILITIES
SCT on Ageing
NHS relationships
NUMed Malaysia
AHSN
PVC
(HaSS)
Faculty leadership and management
SCT on Social Renewal
Sport
Corporate sponsors
PVC
(SAgE)
Faculty leadership and management
SCT on Sustainability
NUIS
University Farms
Military relationships
Registrar
Chief Operations Officer
Risk Management
University Governance
Emergency response & business
continuity
Certificate holder
Durham Univ. liaison
Chief Financial Officer
Financial strategy
RBP liaison
Exec. Dir.
Finance
Exec. Dir.
Human
Resources
HR strategy and policies
Staff relations and development
Remuneration & Pensions
Health and Safety
RBP trustee/director
Diversity and equal opportunities
Organisational development
PROJECT
RESPONSIBILITIES
 Raising the Bar: Top talent recruitment
 Growth Initiative 2017
o New degree
o New funding opportunity
 CAV business development
 Raising the Bar: Top talent recruitment
 Growth Initiative 2017
o New degree
o New funding opportunity
 Develop physical presence at Xiamen (DVC leads)
 USA strategy (DVC leads)
 Armstrong redevelopment
 Raising the Bar: Top talent recruitment
 Growth Initiative 2017
o New degree
o New funding opportunity
 SAgE @ Science Central
 Singapore strategy
 Consolidate Student Recruitment (+PVC L&T)
 Science Central academic building
 DARO leadership
 RES leadership (+PVC R&I)
LINE MANAGEMENT
M AIN FUNCTIONAL
INTERACTION
Executive Board
Faculty staff
Vice-Chancellor
Executive Board
Faculty staff
Vice-Chancellor
Executive Board
Support Services [A&H;
DARO; Estates; Exec
Office; Fin; HR; ISS;
Int. Audit; Library; PR;
M&C; RES; S&AS]
Director: CBC
Vice-Chancellor
Executive Board
VC
Registrar
PVC(P&R)
Director of RES
Director of Estates
Faculty PVCs
VC
Registrar
Faculty PVCs






Growth Initiative 2017: Programme Lead
Leverage reserves
Business Enterprise Development
Shared Services (PVC P&R leads)
CPD (PVC L&T leads)
NELEP liaison
Finance and
Planning






Set up an Academic Intelligence Unit
Raising the Bar projects
E-Recruitment
Lowest pay project
Performance management
Increase % of PDRs done
HR
SDU
Safety Office
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Executive Board Regional Engagement Responsibilities 2013-14
Principles






“Engagement” is how we respond to the needs and demands of civil society through Research and Teaching.
Research and Teaching respond to the question “What are we good at?”. Engagement responds to the question “What are we
good for?”
Our Engagement portfolio is structured largely, but not exclusively, through our three Societal Challenge Themes.
Engagement is a 2-way street. We gain from societal interaction as much as society gains from us.
Engagement is a distributed portfolio, coordinated by the DVC.
All members of EB have Engagement responsibilities.
Categories of Regional Engagement [and lead EB member]






Social & Third Sector [PVC(HaSS), with Director of NISR]
Cultural [PVC(Hass), with Dean of Culture]
Economic
o Business & Professional Organisations [Exec Dir Finance]
o Industry [PVC(R&I)]
o Science Central Co-location [PVC(SAgE), with Director of NIReS]
Health [PVC(FMS), with Director of NICA]
Education and Skills [PVC(L&T)]
Local Government & Regional Organisations [DVC]
Participants


In principle, all members of staff.
Organisationally: EB members, Societal Challenge Theme Leaders, (relevant) Deans, Heads of Unit, DARO, Science City Co,
Advisory Boards, Ambassadors, Court.
Regional Organisations we are engaged with
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

Appendix 1 – Engagement Map: Organisations by category [with operational responsibility indicated]
Appendix 2: Alphabetical full list of all regional organisations we are engaged with [with category, lead EB member and
operational responsibility]
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