Strictly Private and Confidential
SCHOOL OF CLINICAL SCIENCES
SCHOOL MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
Meeting held on Wednesday 2 February 2015 at 12.30-2pm, Boardroom, Chancellor’s
Building.
Present:
Prof H Critchley (in the Chair), G Cameron, H Cullion, Prof C ffrench-Constant,
Dr S Hannah, Prof P Hayes, Prof M Heck, Prof A MacLullich, Prof I Marshall,
Prof J Pollard, V Renton (for item 5), Dr S Riley, A Scott, Prof E Van Beek,.
1.
Welcome from Head of School
2.
Apologies for absence
3.
Minutes from previous meeting held on 18 November 2014
Minutes of the last meeting were confirmed.
4.
Matters arising from the previous minutes not covered elsewhere on the agenda
Research Excellence Framework
No details were currently available on what funding would result from the 2014 REF.
5.
ERI
Val Renton, Research and Development Officer outlined the support and advice that ERI
could offer aside from the grant application process. This included hosting seminars on grant
application processes particularly for early career researchers and Chancellor’s Fellows who
were new to the University, research governance, the importance of IRG forms, working with
NHS R&D and EU projects for all PIs were proposed. It was agreed that the School would
liaise with ERI to set up several fora on these subjects. For the EU grant process, contact
would be made with the ERI group that dealt with the large complex funding bids and request
a seminar on this subject to highlight the support that they could offer.
The Committee was informed that the University subscribed to “Research Professional”
which was an online service offering access to a database of research funding opportunities.
This was available to all staff of the University. Further information on how to access could
be found at http://www.ed.ac.uk/schools-departments/edinburgh-researchinnovation/research-support-development/research-development/fundingopportunities/2.9061
There was also a discussion that feeding back to central University (VP Jonathan Seckl) the
view from research centres was that staff at ERI if had the available staff resources, could be
more pro-active in terms of a problem solving role. It was be valuable to have a small
working group looking at some of the obstacles researchers (in particular those who held
clinical trials) faced when taking forward their funding agenda once the grant had been
successfully received.
Action: School to organise seminars hosted by ERI on subjects such as grant application
process.
6.
Athena Swan
Athena Swan Self Assessment Team aimed to have the draft application for Silver Award
ready by summer 2015. Directors of Centres were to be contacted shortly regarding Athena
Swan initiatives and to gather data required for the silver award application.
Members were asked to ensure that they have completed the current Gender Equality survey
and to encourage their staff to also complete.
Action: School to send reminders to staff to complete Gender Equality survey and ask
Centre Directors to promote this amongst their areas.
7.
Restructure of College of Medicine
The three medical schools (Biomedical Sciences, Clinical Sciences and Molecular, Genetic
and Population Health Sciences) would be brought together into a single Edinburgh Medical
School from August 2015. The new Medical School would be divided into three Deaneries,
each led by a Dean. These would replace the current three Schools, with current Heads of
Schools taking these roles and continuing to work at the level of a Head of School.
8.
Health and Safety
For information, staff were reminded that attendance on the Health and Safety Awareness for
PIs, supervisors and other service managers was mandatory for all those responsible for the
health, safety and welfare of others acting under their direction. Those who had previously
attended, but not within the last five years, were strongly recommended by the University to
attend for refresher training.
All staff that underwent health and safety training were advised to ensure that personal
training records were maintained.
Action: relevant staff to undertake Health and Safety Awareness training.
9.
Undergraduate
Professor Iredale has set up a group to consider the previous NSS scores and action required.
He was tasked by the Principal to address the feedback and what strategies were in place to
improve results.
10.
Postgraduate
i)
Student Satisfaction Surveys – staff were requested to encourage students to complete
these. The School had over 1,000 PGT students with many OLDL so it was
challenging to raise the response rate but the School was working with the student
survey team on this.
ii)
CMVM has agreed to devolve IAD funding to Schools to support local requirements
and initiatives in support of the professional, personal and career development of early
career researchers, doctoral and masters students. Feedback of the use of these funds
was welcomed.
Action: School to work with student survey team to raise response rate to
teaching/experience surveys.
Recommendations on use of devolved IAD funding to be made to School Administrator.
11.
Finance
SFC funded salaries were forecast to be overspent due in some measure to a reduction in
budget received. All budget holders of unrestricted income accounts (ie in G departmental
accounts) should ensure that any surpluses held were spent by financial year end as there was
no guarantee that unspent funds could be carried forward into the 2015/16 financial year.
Action: budget holders to review unrestricted accounts.
12.
Job Planning for Clinical Academics
It was confirmed that clinical academics should use the paper job plan and not the electronic
job plan that NHS-employed consultants were required to use. All job plans and any
amendments to it had to be jointly signed by both the NHS and University.
13.
Post Approval Process
The University’s Policy and Resources Committee had agreed to re-introduce the central
“Post Approval Group” process for all internally funded posts. This was due to concerns that
the University’s salary costs, in particular for non-academic staff, were currently growing
disproportionately relative to the wider growth of the University. For external funded posts
there was still a need to show funding, for example, the post in question was costed to a
research grant. A new form for post approval had been developed with a clear request that
costings for the post were clearly outlined.
Action: members to note new form for post approval process.
14.
Date of next meetings
Tuesday 3 March 2015 at 12.30-2pm, Boardroom, Chancellor’s Building
Tuesday 5 May 2015 at 12.30-2pm, Boardroom, Chancellor’s Building
Wednesday 24 June 2015 at 12.30-2pm, Boardroom, Chancellor’s Building