Author: Shaun Williams, Executive Director Engagement and Advancement
A shortened UEB meeting this morning ahead of a full day looking at the implementation plans for each of our underpinning Strategic Plans, as we continue to put in place the architecture for delivery of our new University Strategy.
- The Vice-Chancellor welcomed Oliver Murray, the incoming President of Southampton University Students’ Union (SUSU) to his first UEB meeting, and thanked outgoing SUSU President Ben Dolbear for his tremendous contribution over the past 12 months. The President of SUSU attends every UEB meeting and sits on our Governing Council, to ensure the student voice is heard in our decision-making.
- UEB heard that plans are well-advanced for our July Super Graduation ceremonies at St Mary’s Stadium, which will see three days of graduations by thousands of our students, some of whom weren’t able to attend ceremonies over the last two years due to COVID restrictions on numbers. UEB thanked all those working hard to make these complex events a memorable success for the students and their families. UEB also looked forward to seeing many staff from across the University at the ceremonies as we celebrate the achievements of our students.
- UEB discussed and approved the final draft of our Access and Participation Plan variance 2023/24. The Office for Students has identified four priorities which the 2023/24 variances should address: (i) make access and participation plans more accessible in a way that prospective and current students, their parents and other stakeholders can easily understand; (ii) develop, enhance and expand their partnerships with schools and other local and national organisations, to help raise the pre-16 attainment of young people from underrepresented groups across England; (iii) set out how access to higher education for students from underrepresented groups leads to successful participation on high quality courses and good graduate outcomes; (iv) seek to develop more diverse pathways into and through higher education through expansion of flexible Level 4 and 5 courses and degree apprenticeships.
- UEB approved the latest progress report of our Strategy Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), which are reviewed by our governing Council three times a year. New data is available for KPI 6, QS citations (flagged green), KPI 8, Staff engagement (flagged green) and KPI 14, QS Academic reputation (flagged amber). The target for KPI 15, % International Students, has been updated to align to the latest Size and Shape projections.
- The meeting concluded with a reviewed of the University Risk Register.