COUNCIL: 9 DECEMBER 2013
VICE-CHANCELLOR’S BUSINESS
1.
Deaths
4 June 2013
Dr Constance Mary Fraser. Dr Fraser joined the University in 1957
as Staff Tutor in Local History in the then Department of ExtraMural Studies. She was an active member of the Society of
Antiquaries of Newcastle upon Tyne and, after some 20 years as
Secretary and long periods of committee work, served as
President for three years from 1990 to 1992.
19 October 2013
Dr Archibald Douglas. Dr Douglas was appointed as a Senior
Research Associate in the Geochemistry Unit in the Department of
Geology on 1 August 1966. In August 1973 Dr Douglas was
appointed to a Lectureship in Department of Geology and
promoted to Senior Lecturer in August 1980, until his retirement in
June 1986.
24 October 2013
Dr Elfrieda Dubois. Dr Dubois was appointed as a Lecturer in the
Department of French in October 1948. In August 1964 Dr Dubois
was promoted to Senior Lecturer, followed by a Personal
Readership in French Studies in August 1973 until her retirement
in September 1978.
13 November 2013
Emeritus Professor Duncan George Murchison.
Professor Murchison graduated in Geology from King’s College,
Newcastle where he was President of the Students’ Union from
1953 to 1954. He then worked as a geologist with Royal Dutch
Shell prior to his appointment as Research Associate in the
Department of Geology in January 1958. He was appointed
Lecturer in 1960, promoted to Senior Lecturer in 1968, appointed
as Reader in Geochemistry in 1971 and appointed Professor of
Geochemistry at the University in 1976. He was Dean of the
University’s Faculty of Science from 1980 to 1983. Professor
Murchison served as Pro-Vice-Chancellor from 1986 until his
retirement in 1993. During this period he also served as Acting
Vice-Chancellor for one year from 1st January to31 December
1991. He was accorded the title of Emeritus Professor on his
retirement.
23 November 2013.
Mr Edward (Ted) Caldwell. Mr Caldwell was appointed to the post
of Administrative Assistant in the Department of Biochemistry and
Botany on 1st August 1972 and promoted to Senior Administrative
Assistant in August 1979. In November 1980 Mr Caldwell
transferred to the Registrar’s Office in Kensington Terrace to
support the work of the Faculties of Arts and Engineering until his
retirement in April 1997.
2.
Updates, Consultations and Reports
2.1
Report on Executive Board business.
I have attached my report on business considered by Executive Board between 22
October and 19 November 2013.
Annex 1
2.2
Pay negotiations and industrial action
The Chair of Council has approved the UCEA recommendation to implement the 1% pay
increase in December. The increase will be backdated to 1st August 2013. The
recommendation is made despite continuing industrial action. Discussions are continuing
at a national level, but there is currently no resolution.
A joint strike day took place on 31 October and UCU advised that its members would
‘work to contract’ from 1 November. Further industrial action is scheduled to take place
on 3 December. I will ask the Executive Director of HR to update Council at the
meeting.
2.3
Feedback from the Vice-Chancellor’s visits abroad
I have recently returned from visits to our overseas campuses in Malaysia and Singapore,
and to our strategic partners in China (Xiamen), Australia (Monash) and Indonesia
(Universitas Indonesia). Some key points from my visits are outlined below.
Singapore
I met the new President of the Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT), Professor Tan
Thiam Soon. He outlined his strategy for the development of SIT as Singapore’s newest (=
5th) university. I confirmed that we wish to continue to develop our relationship with SIT as
a major strategic partner within the context of this strategy.
I led a delegation to Nanyang Technological University, to renew an MoU. NTU is under
the vigorous leadership of President Bertil Andersson, and has made spectacular leaps up
the league tables over the past few years. This is a collaboration well worth following up
on the research front, and NTU will have some league table tactics worth considering.
NUIS hosted an alumni event, at which I was the guest of honour. Singapore is our most
active and most loyal overseas alumni branch,
Malaysia
I have now visited the accommodation used by our students at the “International Student
Village” (actually a single building). It is poorly designed, poorly built and poorly managed.
It is possible that there will always be some demand for rooms in that building from some
of our students, because it is much cheaper than anything else available, and (so far) the
only accommodation available on campus. We should however, scope out alternatives,
and I have asked the Executive Director Finance to look into this.
I also visited the Sports Centre, which is very good, and likely to be managed by
Gateshead College. The difficulty here seems to be that students will not have access to
the facilities without paying, so some negotiation on behalf of our students seems to be
indicated.
Xiamen
Xiamen University is one of our international Strategic Partners, along with Groningen,
Monash and SIT. We have proposed, and they have accepted, a joint and equal
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partnership with them for our two Business Schools to offer an International Management
programme as a dual degree.
A joint Strategic Partnership Board has now been constituted, with three senior
representatives from each university (from Newcastle: Professors Ella Ritchie, Charles
Harvey and Steve Hughes), and each side has a nominated lead person (Prof Hughes at
our end).
Monash
We have long considered Monash as one of our main strategic partners considered but it
is fair to say that the relationship has had a few wobbles. I went there with the PVC
Medical Sciences to re-focus the relationship on Medical Sciences, building on a longstanding collaboration in Neuroscience. My impression is that there is still a good chance
of cementing the relationship with Monash, and a will to do so on both sides.
Universitas Indonesia
We already have an MoU with Universitas Indonesia, but the itinerary provided an
opportunity to call in at Jakarta to renew the agreement and gain some profile.
I gave a lecture, we renewed the MoU, and we visited their Centre for Ageing. Indonesia is
the 4th largest nation on earth, yet it is still terra incognita for many UK universities. It
makes good strategic sense to have a foothold there which could be turned into firstmover advantage as and when an opportunity presents itself.
3.
Learning and Teaching
3.1 HEFCE Postgraduate Support scheme
Newcastle University is a member of a consortium, led by Sheffield and including to
University of Leeds, University of Manchester, University of York, and University of
Warwick, which has been successful in gaining funding from HEFCE’s Postgraduate
Support Scheme. The project aims to investigate factors affecting widening access to
postgraduate study and the professions and provides over £4M to be delivered to
support postgraduate students across the consortium. Newcastle’s specific role is to
model the postgraduate taught landscape through qualitative and quantitative data
gathering in order to develop an understanding of motivations and barriers to PGT study
for students.
4.
Research matters
4.1 Doctoral Training Partnership
We have had notification that our NERC IAPETUS Doctoral Training Partnership bid
was successful. IAPETUS is named after the ancient ocean that closed to bring
together Northern England and Scotland and this reflects the make-up of our
consortium; we will be working with Durham (co-ordinators), Glasgow, St Andrews and
Stirling, together with the British Geological Survey and the Centre for Ecology &
Hydrology. The consortium will receive £5 million from NERC. This is sufficient to fund
in excess of 60 PhD studentships over the next five years.
4.2 Centre for Doctoral Training in Digital Civics
It has been announced that the University has been successful in its application for
funding from EPSRC to launch a Centre for Doctoral Training in Digital Civics. Led by
Professor Patrick Olivier and Peter Wright in Computing Science, the Centre will train a
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new generation of researchers to investigate how digital technology can be used to redesign local services which will better meet the needs of society. Working with
businesses, the public sector and local communities, the CDT will focus on the use of
digital technologies in the provision of education, public health and social care,
planning and local democracy. The Newcastle CDT is a partnership between
Newcastle University, local government (Northumberland, Gateshead and Newcastle
councils), local and national NGOs, international technology companies, and many of
the world¹s leading universities in North America, Asia, Europe and Australasia.
4.3 Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2014
We submitted our REF return on 27 November 2013. I will ask the PVC Research and
Innovation, Professor Wright, to update Council members at the meeting.
5.
Internal Matters
5.1 George Brown Endowment Fund: Request for funds to support the Hatton Gallery
Campaign
The Hatton Gallery is one of Newcastle University’s key cultural assets. However,
there has been no major investment in its fabric and infrastructure in the past 30 years.
This is now significantly impeding the University in its ambitions to provide a high
quality venue for the display of historic and contemporary art, to care for a listed
building with an important collection, and to engage fully with visitors and learners.
A capital re-development project is planned to transform the Hatton Gallery and a
major fundraising campaign was launched on Monday 18th November.
We wish to request £500,000 from the George Brown Endowment to support the
capital works. University Endowments Group has confirmed the suitability of the
George Brown Fund for this project and the amount available. Financial commitment
from the University is requested now in order to maximise partnership funding for the
project.
Releasing income from this fund requires the approval of Senate and Council following
a proposal by the Vice-Chancellor. I believe this is a worthwhile use of the fund.
Senate approved this on the 26 November and I recommend approval by Council to
release the funds to support this worthy cause.
Annex 2
5.2 Donation
At the meeting of Council on 28 October I advised members that we had received
notification of an unrestricted legacy of over £500,000 from a retired member of staff,
Dr Constance Mary Fraser. Dr Fraser joined the University in 1957 as Staff Tutor in
Local History in the then Department of Extra-Mural Studies. She was an active
member of the Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle upon Tyne and, after some 20
years as Secretary and long periods of committee work, served as President for three
years from 1990 to 1992.
The donation has now been confirmed for the amount of £524k. Council is asked to
approve this donation to the University.
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5.3 Newcastle University Information Technology (NUIT)
Executive Board has agreed to establish NUIT, the University’s unified approach to
delivering IT service. This will strengthen our performance in underpinning research
and teaching, by ensuring that our IT experts are aligned and working together. NUIT
will create a community of like-minded professionals who can share approaches, ideas
and expertise.
Three Faculty IT Managers will be recruited, reporting initially to the Director of NUIT
but located in each Faculty. Once each is in place, professional IT staff located in each
Faculty will change reporting line to the Faculty IT Manager. Budgets for staff and for
standard IT equipment and services will transfer. Day-to-day priority setting will
continue to rest with the local academic or service unit.
These changes will improve consistency, minimise risk and improve cover. They will
provide both a lead advocate for each Faculty and a professional development path for
IT staff.
5.4 University Visit days 2014
As members of Council will know, Visit Days are held each year for prospective
undergraduate students and their families to visit the University prior to applying.
Combined attendance for the 2013 Visit Days was the highest ever, with a total of
36,500 visitors.
The Visit Days for 2014 will be on Friday 27 and Saturday 28 June and Saturday 27
September 2014.
External Matters
6.1 Queens’ Anniversary Prize 2014
I am delighted to confirm that Newcastle University has been announced as a winner of
the Queen’s Anniversary Prize for its pioneering research into rural economies and
societies.
The Prize was announced at a special reception at St James’s Palace on the 21st
November, which I attended with the University’s Chancellor, Sir Liam Donaldson. It
was awarded to the University for our internationally recognised research into
sustainable rural economies and societies, led by the Centre for Rural Economy, which
has influenced policy and practice around the world.
Queen’s Anniversary Prizes are awarded by the Royal Anniversary Trust to honour
work of outstanding importance and quality in higher and further education in the UK.
The winners in the Tenth Round of the Queen’s Anniversary Prizes will have their
awards presented at a ceremony in February 2014.
This is the third occasion on which Newcastle University has been awarded a Queen’s
Anniversary Prize. Previously the University gained the Prize in 2005 for its innovative
solutions to mine water pollution, and again in 2009 for research into ageing. By
recognising the University’s excellence in the field of rural economy research, this
latest Prize means that research being carried out under all three of the themes has
now been recognised, making for a sector-leading ‘hat trick’ of Anniversary Prizes.
Our aim at Newcastle is to conduct world-class research that directly addresses the
biggest issues of the day, and the work being carried out by the Centre for Rural
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Economy is an excellent example of what this means in practice. Philip Lowe, Mark
Shucksmith, Guy Garrod and their teams are looking at some of the world’s most
pressing challenges, from how we use land, to the changing relationships between
rural and urban communities and how we tackle social exclusion.
The announcement of this award is testament to their hard work and I know you will
join me in congratulating them on this richly deserved accolade.
This year the Centre for Rural Economy celebrates its 21st anniversary. On the 27th
November, a £2.5 million fundraising campaign to secure the Centre’s future and
maintain our position at the forefront of rural economy research was launched at
Alnwick Castle. So this news could not have come at a more appropriate time.
6. Late News
Updates on items received after this report goes to press will be reported at the
meeting.
7. Early warnings
Any early warnings will be brought to Senate’s attention at the meeting.
Professor Chris Brink
Vice-Chancellor
2 December 2013
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Annex 1
Executive Board business considered between 22 October and 19 November 2013
October
1. Preparation for the REF: Faculty of Medical Sciences
2. Preparation for the REF: Faculty of H&SS
3. Preparation for the REF: Faculty of SAgE
4. Interim HR plan : Medical Sciences
5. USA Strategy
6. New University Research Centre
7. Sale of property update
November
8.School of Medical Sciences Educational Development
9. The future of Ageing
10. Learning, Teaching and Student Experience Strategy
11. Approach to Car parking and vehicle management
12. Senate meeting 26 November 2013
13. INTO Annual Report 2012-13
15.Honours Degree Classification
16. New University Research Centre
17.Council meeting 9 December 2013
18.Institutional KPI summary
19.Review of Student Rents 2014/15
20.HR strategic progress report
21.Equality Strategy
22.Equality and Diversity Annual Monitoring Report 2013
24.FutureLearn
25.Raising the Bar: update on senior appointments
26.Undergraduate applications 2014 entry
27.Postgraduate applications 2014 entry
PVC Medical Sciences
PVC H&SS
PVC SAgE
PVC Medical Sciences
DVC/PVC H&SS
PVC R&I
PVC Medical Sciences
PVC Medical Sciences
PVC L&T
Registrar
Registrar
PVC P&R
PVC L&T
PVC R&I
Registrar
PVC P&R
Registrar
Executive Director of HR
Executive Director of HR
Executive Director of HR
PVC L&T
Executive Directors of HR and
Finance
PVC L&T
PVC L&T
Ruth Draper Secretary to EB
2 December 2013
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Annex 2
Annex 2
Revitalising Newcastle’s Hatton Gallery: Request for funds from the George Brown
Endowment
1
Purpose of the funding
The Hatton Gallery is one of Newcastle University’s key cultural assets. However, there has been
no major investment in its fabric and infrastructure in the past 30 years. This is now significantly
impeding the University in its ambitions to provide a high quality venue for the display of historic
and contemporary art, to care for a listed building with an important collection, and to engage fully
with visitors and learners.
A capital re-development project is planned to transform the Hatton Gallery. The capital works will
create a welcoming and engaging gallery experience by:
 conserving the historic architectural elements of the Gallery and the entrance foyer;
 refurbishing the galleries and ancillary spaces to modern standards;
 conserving Kurt Schwitters’ Merzbarn Wall and selected items from the collection;
 creating a dedicated Learning Space and Collections Access Room.
This will be complemented by a creative programme of exhibition, learning and training activities to
develop new and existing audiences and raise awareness of the Hatton as a distinctive cultural
venue.
This is a partnership project with Tyne & Wear Archives and Museums (TWAM), which manages
the Gallery and the Great North Museum on behalf of the University. It is a strategic University
project, championed by Professor Ella Ritchie OBE, Deputy Vice-Chancellor.
2
The benefits of the project to the University
The Hatton Gallery is Newcastle University’s public art gallery, which has played a significant role
in modern art history. The Gallery offers a distinctive atmosphere and sense of place, which
embodies the University’s civic pride and provides visitors with a unique cultural experience. Fine
Art teaching and research have given the Gallery a distinctive character, and a history that is
intertwined with important developments in art and art education in the North East and across the
UK.
This project is important to the University as it will:
 safeguard heritage at risk: the Grade II listed building, the Gallery’s collection and archive, and
Kurt Schwitters’ Merzbarn Wall;
 build on major investments in the Great North Museum and on campus;
 take advantage of new opportunities with national arts organisations, eg. Tate;
 improve the visitor experience;
 support fine art and gallery studies scholarship, and encourage learning for all ages and
abilities;
 maximise partnership funding from the Arts Council England’s Catalyst Arts scheme; and
 make a positive statement about the importance of heritage and the arts to Newcastle.
Together, the capital project and activity programme will enable the Hatton to fulfil its potential as a
cultural, heritage and educative force regionally, nationally and internationally.
3
Funding requested and timescale
We wish to request £500,000 from the George Brown Endowment to support the capital works.
University Endowments Group has confirmed the suitablility of the George Brown Fund for this
project and the amount available. It will cost £3.47m to transform the Hatton Gallery into a
distinctive cultural venue; this comprises £2.82m for the capital works and £650,000 for the gallery
programme. Under the current project timetable, the Hatton Gallery will close in February 2016
and re-open in July 2017. Financial commitment from the University is requested now in order to
maximise partnership funding for the project.
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Financial contributions from other sources
The University’s Development and Alumni Relations Office, in partnership with TWAM, is leading
the fundraising for this project. We have secured £204,000 and hope to receive a stage one pass
from Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) in March 2014 for £2.28m. We aim to raise the balance from
trusts and foundations (£400,000) and individuals (£80,000). A fundraising campaign will be
launched on 18 November and all eligible donations will be match funded by the Arts Council
England’s Catalyst Arts scheme until May 2015
HLF is the only funder with the ability to provide major investment to the project and is supportive
of the project. HLF’s Board deemed the Hatton project as a strong, high priority, but was not able
to support our previous £2.8m applications due to insufficient funds in the national grantmaking
budget. HLF has strongly encouraged a re-application but advised that the University needs to
create demand for the project to happen now. The suggested approach is to secure additional
partnership funding from either internal or external sources which will build a sense of urgency
along with reducing the HLF grant request.
Approval of this request will provide a compelling case for support to the Heritage Lottery Fund and
crucial leverage for investment in the project. Significant financial commitment from the University
is potentially transformative for the Hatton Gallery. It will demonstrate commitment to this key
cultural asset and most of all, genuinely build a sense of urgency for the project to go ahead.
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Implications if funding is not given
This strategic project will be at risk if additional partnership funding cannot be secured. Without
the University’s investment, the partnership funding secured to date, the potential investment from
the Heritage Lottery Fund and the viability of the Hatton Gallery are at risk.
The Heritage Lottery Fund will only accept a further application if there is a significant change to
the project. The only viable change, without compromising the ambition for the Gallery, is to
increase the partnership funding committed to the project. Newcastle University will not be able to
re-submit its application for £2.28m to the Heritage Lottery Fund, if this funding request is not
supported.
If significant investment cannot be secured for the Hatton, the run down appearance of its galleries
coupled with the need to renew services brings into question the future viability of the Gallery as a
functioning and vibrant venue for the display of historic and contemporary art.
Suzanne Davies
Trusts and Foundations Manager
Professor Ella Ritchie
Deputy Vice-Chancellor
On behalf of Executive Board
27 November 2013