Author: Shaun Williams, Executive Director Engagement and Advancement
Operating in Gold Command mode, UEB discussed several operational and campus issues:
- There was an update on the current reported staff and student COVID case numbers, which remain relatively low, and case numbers in our local community are also reducing. However, the pressure on the NHS in Southampton remains intense, and our public health partners continue to urge the need for vigilance.
- UEB heard the change in University guidelines from strongly encouraging the wearing of face coverings to a requirement for their use had been largely welcomed by staff and students. This and other hygiene measures continue to be important not just against COVID but also to prevent transmission of the other seasonal respiratory illnesses currently affecting our community. We continue to monitor our campus operations closely and take measures where required.
The meeting then reverted to normal UEB mode to discuss a number of other issues:
- There was the second in what are now quarterly updates to UEB on progress with our Strategic Major Projects. As the new University Strategy takes shape, work has started to review the existing Strategic Major Projects Portfolio and the emerging strategic initiatives in order to prioritise the right projects to ensure the Portfolio remains relevant and aligned to the emerging strategy; to understand the investment and resources needed to deliver the University’s ambitions; and to consider the challenges to successful portfolio and strategy delivery and the actions needed to resolve them. Meanwhile, a new Change Portfolio Office Resource Hub has been created, providing resources and guidance to help successfully plan and deliver projects and programmes.
- After a review of the overall current Strategic Major Projects pipeline, there were more detailed updates on the IT Programme; the Estates Programme, where we hope to see an overall estates masterplan and a net-zero road map for Highfield and other areas of the estate developed in the early part of 2022; Future Ways of Working; Modernising the Governance; and our Transnational Education (TNE) Growth project, which over time will deliver an increase from our current level of 1,000 students studying abroad to around 7,500. A new TNE gateway framework has been set up to assess emerging opportunities. UEB welcomed the good progress and growing momentum on all these key projects. Finally, UEB noted very positively the closure report on the recent Pathway Providers project, which successfully partnered us with an international pathway provider to deliver international foundation programmes for the University.
- UEB noted the results of the two recent UCU ballots on strike action around pension benefits, and pay and working conditions, neither of which reached the statutory threshold for strike action at our University. UEB members expressed relief on behalf of our students that the immediate threat of disruption to their education has been lifted.
- As we near the final stages of agreeing our new University Strategy, UEB reviewed and commented on a further draft of the Strategy document, incorporating feedback from the second phase of consultation with our community, which will be discussed by our governing Council later this month. UEB also discussed how we will develop and review the 10 underpinning Strategic Plans which will ensure we translate the long-term Strategy into tangible actions over the medium term, and bring the Strategy vision to life. These will comprise: People; Equality, Diversity & Inclusion; Sustainability; Student Experience; Education; Research; Enterprise; International; Civic; and Infrastructure.
- Finally, UEB noted an update on our Access and Participation Plan 2020/21-2024/25, giving an overview of the latest verified performance against targets designed to support all widening participation commitments, to be reviewed by our Council later this month; and the meeting ended with the regular review of the University Risk Register.