Author: Shaun Williams, Executive Director Engagement and Advancement
Operating in Gold Command mode, UEB discussed several operational and campus issues:
- We continue to monitor staff and student COVID case levels on a daily basis, as well as those of the wider Southampton area. Case levels remain relatively low, but we are also aware of the impact on some colleagues of rising numbers of COVID cases in secondary schools. We continue to liaise closely with our local health protection board, and with our campus trade unions.
- Where specific concerns are raised, we are addressing them on a case-by-case basis through the Estates and Facilities and Health, Safety and Risk teams. This has included the provision of additional signage, and additional measures such as the return of some one-way systems to alleviate potential bottlenecks. Our campaign around community responsibility highlights the importance of supporting each other in keeping our community safe, exercising caution and ensuring everyone respects and adheres to our community expectations, particularly around the wearing of face coverings when moving around inside a shared University building or in crowded spaces.
The meeting then reverted to normal UEB mode to discuss a number of other issues:
- The Vice-Chancellor expressed his and UEB’s congratulations to the winners of the Vice-Chancellor Awards 2021, announced at the end of last week, and he also thanked those who had organised such an uplifting event, which he was delighted had been able to take place in-person this year.
- The Vice-Chancellor also reported on the launch on Monday of the first in a series of events and workshops focused on developing race and cultural inclusivity at the University. The in-person event, organised by the UoS Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) Staff Network, in partnership with the John Hansard Gallery EDI Task Force, was attended by the Vice-Chancellor and a number of UEB members. At the event, the Vice-Chancellor applauded the BAME Network for its work, recognising that as a University we still have a long journey to travel towards race equality, and he pledged his personal commitment to driving change.
- UEB noted the formal launch of the ONCAMPUS Southampton centre, a new route for international students to join Southampton, and the culmination of a year’s work from the Pathway project teams, bringing together academic and professional services colleagues from across the University. UEB agreed this was a welcome development and we look forward to working with our new partners.
- UEB noted a letter to the Vice-Chancellor from George Freeman MP, the newly appointed Minister for Science, Research and Innovation, in which the Minister framed his core mission around developing the UK’s world class scientific leadership and developing the UK’s innovation ecosystem. All eyes in the sector will be on next week’s Comprehensive Spending Review.
- UEB discussed and welcomed a revised Strategic Planning Process, which will see UEB meetings being used to start the process of aligning business planning to the refreshed University Strategy. The executive leads of key underpinning strategic plans will present their strategic plans to UEB from October to December, to facilitate a discussion on priorities and actions, which can then feed into the business planning process.
- Finally, UEB noted the Annual Assurance Statement to be presented to the Audit Committee in November, and the meeting ended with the regular review of the University Risk Register.