Author: Shaun Williams, Executive Director, Engagement and Advancement
Meeting in person this week, UEB discussed a number of strategic and operational issues:
- The Vice-Chancellor opened the meeting by expressing his deep concern and sadness at an incident at the Winchester School of Art on Friday last week, in which two members of staff and some students were affected by an unprovoked incident involving a member of the public, in which racial slurs were used. Police made an immediate arrest, and we are supporting those affected, who were understandably shaken.
- It is important that any colleague or student who experiences an incident knows they can confidently report it, using our Report and Support tool with the expectation that it will be investigated, and appropriate actions taken including the involvement of the police if necessary. We strive to be a truly inclusive culture, free from discrimination. Our culture is based on the values of dignity, courtesy and respect and we recognise the right of every person to be treated in accordance with these values.
- We continue to monitor closely the situation in Ukraine. We are now very close to finalising details of a scheme to fund a number of scholarships to support refugee students, in our role as a City of Sanctuary Supporting Organisation, on our way to becoming a fully-fledged University of Sanctuary this summer. These scholarships will be available to refugee students from Ukraine and other conflict countries.
- We also know some colleagues are expressing interest in housing refugee families, and UEB has agreed to extend the University’s Special Leave provision to provide up to 4 days of paid leave in any leave year to support a refugee or refugee family through a UK Government refugee scheme.
- At times of international tensions, and humanitarian crises, views and emotions can inevitably be strong, especially in an organisation which embraces freedom of expression, and hosts a community with students and staff from more than 100 countries, some of whom may be in conflict with each other. UEB is clear, as mentioned earlier, that at times like this it is even more important that we strive to be a truly inclusive culture, free from discrimination and based on the values of dignity, courtesy and respect – for everyone.
- UEB noted with great regret that this marks the last week of the NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight Saliva Testing Programme following the Government’s decision to end all free testing from 1 April. The Vice-Chancellor expressed his and UEB’s deep gratitude to all those who devised, pioneered and delivered a remarkable programme, one that has played a huge role in limiting the impact of COVID not just on our own community, but also on other health and education institutions in Hampshire. UEB also heard that we have now distributed all our remaining stock of free lateral flow tests.
- We are, of course, conscious that levels of COVID cases remain high, indeed UEB heard that in some areas of Professional Services current absences may be having a short-term impact on service provision in some teams, and we ask for colleagues’ understanding. We remain in regular contact with our local health protection board.
- UEB received a further update on our Future Ways of Working strategic major project. The lifting of remaining COVID-related restrictions, including social distancing, and the increased return of staff to our campuses, means we are now in a position to focus more clearly on moving from a near two-year phase of “COVID ways of working” to genuine “hybrid working”, and the benefits that will bring to those colleagues who wish to move to hybrid working, where their roles permit, and the benefits that will bring to the University through more effective and efficient use of our space, as we embark on a period of planned growth for the University, starting from the next academic year. Our immediate focus will be on supporting Professional Services in their adoption of hybrid working, so we can provide a comprehensive tool-kit of support to line managers with more teams now able to return to campus working. A separate strand will look at how we can support academic colleagues. Further information is planned over the next couple of months.
- UEB were updated on the legal action which has been taking place in relation to public access to the Mountbatten Papers, part of the Broadlands archive acquired by our University, and the subject of some media coverage over the last year. The most recent court case, which involved the University and the Cabinet Office, has resulted in the Tribunal supporting our position on all major counts, and our aim to make public as much of the archive as possible whilst balancing our legal obligations. More than 99.8% of the archive, which consists of some 4,500 boxes, is publicly available and accessed regularly by researchers globally.
- The second half of today’s meeting was taken up with a detailed and very interesting presentation by Clare Marchant and Sander Kristel from the Universities and Colleges Admissions Services (UCAS), the first time we have had external visitors join UEB in person for two years. Ahead of further meetings with our Admissions teams and students later that day, they provided an update on the significant changes and investments made by UCAS over recent years, particularly as a result of the COVID pandemic, and better to meet student and university needs. They also provided data about the current admissions cycle which showed Southampton performing extremely well relative to the sector.
- Finally, the latest University Risk Register was noted.