Author: Shaun Williams, Executive Director Engagement and Advancement
- There was an update on the ongoing 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. Discussions continue at national level between the trade unions and the Universities and Colleges Employers Association (UCEA). UEB heard that all the higher education trade unions have now agreed the process for an early start to the 2023-24 New JNCHES pay round. UEB noted that 18 days of strike action have been announced for February and March, with the first date now set for 1st February, but the proposed marking and assessment boycott has been rescinded, so January exams and assessments will not be affected.
- UEB welcomed the announcement this week that our Clinical Trials Unit (CTU) is one of seven CTUs in the UK to benefit from £37.5M of investment by Cancer Research UK over the next five years. From October 2023 the funding will enable clinical teams to deliver innovative and high impact research that improves the care and outcome for people affected by cancer across the UK and globally. Our allocation is an increase on current funding, a significant peer-reviewed vote of confidence in our work in this field, as we embark on a major project to develop a sector-leading Institute for Medical Innovation.
- UEB were briefed that a major cyber exercise will take place this week involving our business continuity teams to test our handling of a hypothetical cyber incident scenario. The recent cyber attacks on the Guardian newspaper group and Royal Mail have highlighted the growing risk of malicious incidents to all organisations, which have already affected some universities. We have invested considerably in our cyber defences, but constant vigilance by every member of staff and our students is critical to ensure our defences are not breached, and underlines the importance of everyone completing their mandatory cyber training.
- Next, UEB reviewed and discussed a paper around our risk appetite. In discussion with our governing Council’s Audit Committee, we are seeking to identify a clear risk appetite for the University by presenting an overarching draft narrative, risk appetite narratives for each strategic plan, plus a narrative for anything not included in the strategic plans such as business as usual. It is a common refrain that we are instinctively risk averse as a University – this exercise will ensure a proactive discussion about each strategic plan, and clarity around areas, such as legal and regulatory compliance, where we must be risk averse, and other areas where we could be more risk open to deliver added value. Further work and discussion on this will continue.
- UEB then noted a Research Integrity, Ethics and Governance update and approved the Research Integrity Statement 2021-2022. As a University we are strongly committed to fulfilling the principles of the Concordat to Support Research Integrity to create a comprehensive framework for responsible research conduct and governance. The principles and commitments include: upholding the highest standards of rigour and integrity in all aspects of research; ensuring that research is conducted according to appropriate ethical, legal and professional frameworks, obligations and standards; supporting a research environment that is underpinned by a culture of integrity and based on good governance, best practice and support for the development of researchers; using transparent, timely, robust and fair processes to deal with allegations of research misconduct should they arise; working together to strengthen the integrity of research.
- Next, UEB approved a paper to be considered by our Governing Council at its next meeting, updating on our monitoring the success of the University Strategy. As part of our new Strategy a set of University Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and associated targets were agreed with Council for the next five years. It was agreed that the KPI dashboard, including new RAG (red, amber, green) ratings to better highlight degrees of performances, would be presented to Council three times a year.
- As part of our Modernising the Governance strategic major project, UEB noted the final draft of a new employment Ordinance and a number of revised employment procedures. Following extensive negotiations and consultations with our campus trade unions, these documents will shortly be shared by the trade unions with their members for consultation.
- Finally, there was the regular review of the University Risk Register. An expanded risk is to be introduced reflecting the potential impact from global geo-political risks, which a small business continuity group is fleshing out.