Author: Shaun Williams, Executive Director Engagement and Advancement
The Vice-Chancellor opened the meeting by welcoming Professor Jon Bull to his first UEB meeting in his role as Interim Dean of the Faculty of Environmental and Life Sciences.
The Vice-Chancellor also expressed his and UEB’s deep sadness following news of the sudden death last week of Charles Elder, the University’s Media Relations Manager, and said his thoughts were very much with his colleagues, and with his family.
Operating in Gold Command mode, UEB discussed several operational and campus issues:
- The Chief Operating Officer updated UEB on our continuing approach to the lifting of formal COVID restrictions in England. With the government effectively transferring responsibility to us as an employer, our obligations under Health & Safety legislation and our duty of care responsibilities will be the guiding principles behind our ongoing approach. Potentially, this means an approach at times greater than, and different from, the prevailing government guidance.
- We continue strongly to encourage the use of face coverings when moving around indoors, or in crowded spaces on our campuses, as a courtesy and as a protection to others. Good ventilation remains an important prevention of transmission, and the ventilation efficiency of hundreds of meeting rooms across our campuses are currently being reviewed. Enhanced cleaning will continue during the summer and additional cleaning will be introduced at the start of the new academic year as use of learning spaces increases. One further change expected in the coming weeks is the removal of one-way systems internally and externally.
- To ensure the best protection of our community, we will continue to provide opportunity and encouragement to all out staff and students to be fully vaccinated.
- The latest student and staff COVID-19 cases dashboard was reviewed. Incidences in our own community are currently low, as are case levels in Southampton, following recent rises.
The meeting then reverted to normal UEB mode to discuss other issues:
- UEB reviewed the final report of the Brexit Task Force, a cross-University group which has been meeting monthly since 2019 to identify, assess and manage potential risks and issues relating to the UK’s departure from the EU, particularly around employment and HR issues. Although a number of issues persist, six months after the implementation of the trade deal with the EU it was agreed that this is an appropriate time for the group to stand down and pass responsibility for ongoing monitoring of impacts to the relevant operational areas.
- UEB discussed a draft Mobile Device Usage Policy as an important control measure as we strengthen our defences against potential cyber security risks. The policy will be refined further before being shared more widely.
- UEB reviewed the latest draft of the new University Strategy, which will be discussed with our governing Council before moving to a further period of consultation with staff, students and alumni in early autumn.
- UEB was briefed on last week’s publication of the government’s new Innovation Strategy, aimed at cementing the UK’s position as a world-leader in science, research and innovation.
- UEB heard that the government’s final response to the Augar Review of post-18 education and funding is expected imminently (although there is no official date yet for publication), with potentially significant implications for the HE sector.
- UEB discussed the current Department for Education consultation on recommendations made by the recent review of the Initial Teacher Training (ITT) market, which we will explore further.
- Finally, there was the regular review of the University Risk Register.