Author: Shaun Williams, Executive Director Engagement and Advancement
- UEB held this week’s meeting in Winchester, following a morning visit to the newly renovated space in the Winchester Guildhall, one of the School of Art’s historic homes. UEB were pleased to see students and staff enjoying the facilities. Our University’s long-term estates plan includes a number of options for increasing and enhancing the estate within Winchester, including developing the former police station site, developing the Handy Villas which were recently acquired by the University, and the potential to develop a business case for redevelopment of the former River Park Leisure Centre site. A well-attended listening exercise was held on 4 March to give Winchester residents an early opportunity to share thoughts.
- The Vice-Chancellor updated UEB on the very successful civic event last week which saw the University sign new Civic University Agreements with all five of our local Councils – Southampton and Winchester City Councils, Eastleigh and Test Valley Borough Councils, and Hampshire County Council. Attended by senior representatives and leaders from all the Councils, along with other civic partners, it was a very positive and energised event in which the University’s key role in connecting communities through culture, education and enterprise was evidently hugely welcomed. UEB thanked those colleagues involved in drawing up the agreements, securing positive engagement with all five Councils, and for organising a terrific event.
- There was a further 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. UEB noted that an extra day of industrial action had been set by UCU nationally for Wednesday 15 March, in addition to already scheduled industrial action on March 16, 17, 20, 21, 22. Separately, a USS pensions update was due to be published that morning, following the Pensions Committee meeting on 22 February, indicating the University’s support to an interim joint statement by Universities UK and UCU on the dispute and on their ambitions for the 2023 valuation. The statement refers to information from the USS Trustee which suggests that the forthcoming 2023 valuation is likely to reveal a high probability of being able to improve benefits and reduce contributions.
- UEB heard that later that morning it would be announced that Professor Craig Hutton, currently Professor of Sustainability Science at Southampton, has been appointed as the founding Director for our new Sustainability and Resilience Institute. The Institute has been established to catalyse a step change in our research in this area, and to position sustainability as a cornerstone of the University’s research and societal impact. It will increase engagement and collaboration across the University to address the most challenging problems facing our society and provide solutions to these challenges through research, innovation and expertise. UEB wished Professor Hutton every success in his new role.
- UEB were reminded that this Saturday sees the conclusion of Southampton Science and Engineering Festival (SOTSEF), our annual award-winning outreach interdisciplinary science festival, with the Science and Engineering Day, which will see thousands of visitors enjoying free activities, workshops, talks, lab tours and live shows on our Highfield and Boldrewood Innovation campuses. UEB thanked the many staff and students who have volunteered to help on the day. Encouragingly, attendee numbers are this year back to pre-pandemic levels.
- UEB were briefed that following the retirement of the University’s Public Orator, the process for nominations for Honorary Degree and Fellowship Awards is changing. In future, and in line with other institutions, those who successfully nominate someone will have a role to play during the graduation process, which may include hosting the nominee and formally presenting them for conferment of their award. Support will be available and for those who prefer not to play a role on the day, alternatives presenters can be agreed with the respective Dean.
- UEB discussed an invitation we have received to join the Key Cities Innovation Network, a group of universities working closely with the 27 cities and town that are members of the Key Cities group, which includes Southampton. The Key Cities Innovation Network says it offers a different voice when it comes to place-based, scalable innovation for all parts of the country, responding to the Government’s growing emphasis on place. Policy initiatives currently under development include the areas of skills, net zero, transport, housing and social care. UEB recommended to the Vice-Chancellor that we should join.
- There was an update and discussion on our potential Transnational Education (TNE) options, an important strand of our international strategic plan; and the meeting closed with the regular review of the University Risk Register.