Author: Shaun Williams, Executive Director Engagement and Advancement
- There was a further update on the prospect of national industrial action by members of the University and College Union (UCU), relating to pay and working conditions, and changes to the USS pension scheme. It was expected that UCU will this week announce dates when action will be taken for later this month. (Subsequent to the meeting, UCU confirmed industrial action will take place on 24, 25 and 30 November and action short of a strike (ASOS), which is intended to be continuous, will start on 23 November).
- UEB welcomed the news last Friday that Arts Council England has maintained its National Portfolio Organisations (NPO) funding for our two University arts venues, John Hansard Gallery, and the Turner Sims concert hall on Highfield campus. The venues will receive more than £2 million over the next three years, ensuring arts and culture continue to thrive in the city. At a time of economic uncertainties, this is a huge vote of confidence in the vision for our venues, and in Southampton.
- UEB were also pleased to note an uplift in our HEIF funding (Higher Education Innovation Funding), which supports knowledge exchange between higher education providers and the wider world, and benefits society and the economy.
- UEB received an update on our website transition progress. This continues to be a highly complex project as we simultaneously improve the effectiveness and accessibility compliance of our website and create single sources of truth in our underlying data systems. The work continues to be prioritised, overseen by a Web Oversight Board, but we recognise it remains the source of frustration to some colleagues while issues are addressed.
- UEB approved our formal response to the Office for Students consultation on changes to access and participation plans. The consultation includes a set of eight proposals which cover regulation of access and participation work, in particular: introducing risks to equality of opportunity; a four-year Access and Participation Plan cycle and publication on delivery of a Plan; revised format and content of a Plan; targets; evaluation; investment; raising attainment in schools and colleges; assessment process.
- UEB noted an update report on our preparations for the new HESA (Higher Education Statistics Agency) data collection process, as part of the sector-wide Data Futures transformation programme that will facilitate in-year data collection, assurance and dissemination of higher education data.
- Finally, there was the regular review of the University Risk Register.