Author: Shaun Williams, Executive Director, Engagement and Advancement
Operating in Gold Command mode, UEB considered a number of issues relating to the pandemic and its implications for the operation of the University:
- There was a review of the latest student and staff COVID cases dashboard which includes those students who are currently still living at home. New case rates remain low, and UEB heard that these were showing some signs of reducing, although Hampshire’s hospitals remain under significant pressure. The importance of rigorously maintaining infection controls and ensuring adequate ventilation in all rooms was underlined.
- As part of an update on discussions at the Silver Command meetings that are taking place twice-weekly, there was further recognition of, and sympathy for, the challenges that many staff are experiencing during this further period of lockdown. Consequently, line managers were encouraged to continue to provide support and flexibility wherever possible. Expectations need to reflect individual circumstances during this difficult period. There was also a recognition that evidence suggests women can often be disproportionately shouldering any additional childcare and home-schooling responsibilities whilst still juggling their own work commitments. Understanding the implications of our decisions, to ensure they are fully equitable for everyone, remains of paramount importance.
Reverting to normal UEB mode for the rest of the meeting, UEB discussed a number of issues:
- The Vice-Chancellor drew UEB’s attention to a number of major documents and consultations relating to the post-16 education landscape in England, published by the Government at the end of last week. This included: the interim Conclusion of the Augur review of Post-18 Education and Funding – the full response will be given at the next Comprehensive Spending Review; the review of the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) and the Government response, including a decision that the future framework should not include any form of subject-level assessments; a Skills for Jobs White Paper; details of a consultation on adopting Post-Qualifications Admissions (PQA); and Government guidance to the Office for Students on reform of the recurrent and capital grants for 2021/22. Much for us, and the sector, to digest and respond to, and UEB will have more detailed discussions on some of these policy issues over the coming weeks.
- There was an update on our estates planning ahead of a discussion by our governing Council next month; confirmation from Research England that the deadline for REF submissions remains the end of March, with additional measures introduced to mitigate the impact of the pandemic and the current period of lockdown, particularly around the need immediately to provide supporting evidence for impact reports; approval of changes to our pay scales to accommodate the new living wage rates; and the regular review of the University Risk Register.