Author: Shaun Williams, Executive Director Engagement and Advancement
- UEB heard that Welcome Week was progressing very well as we start to welcome more than 11,500 new students to our campuses for the beginning of the new academic year, and the SUSU President reported that their activities were also going very well, with strong engagement. UEB thanked all those involved in getting the University and our teaching ready for the new semester, recognising it always takes an immense amount of work. UEB were also pleased to note that the planned industrial action for this week at our University had been withdrawn and that there would be no disruption to the start of term.
- There was a further briefing on the use of RAAC (reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete), on our campus estate. UEB heard that following a second phase review of all of our buildings, the foyer to the Nuffield Theatre has been temporarily closed while more intrusive surveys are carried out. The theatre had previously already been identified for its use of RAAC and has been monitored regularly. Closure of the foyer will temporarily limit access to a number of rooms including the Faith and Reflection Centre, but we hope to re-open as soon as practicable.
- UEB formally approved a new USA Financial Conflicts of Interest Policy, which will only apply to staff who are applying for, or in receipt of, funding from certain USA funders, particularly in the health sector. This new policy will sit as a sub-policy to the University’s existing Conflicts of Interest Policy, and will be presented at the next meeting of Senate for final approval.
- There was a far-ranging discussion about Research England’s current consultation with universities in respect of a number of specific policy aspects of the 2028 Research Excellence Framework (REF). This included issues relating to the practical challenges and unintended consequences institutions may face in implementing the proposed changes and what mitigations the funding bodies might put in place. We have a REF Planning Group considering the consultation is great detail and their work and recommendations were commended by UEB.
- UEB strongly supported a recommendation that the University renews its Disability Confident Leader (DCL) status for a further three-year period, which will require our application to be externally validated by another organisation themselves holding Leader status. Only around half of Russell Group Universities are Disability Confident, and only Imperial College London and ourselves have achieved Leader status. We have deliberately selected a validator with more stringent requirements to challenge our progress in this area.
- UEB were very pleased to note the University’s formal application for a University of Sanctuary Award, which was also warmly endorsed by the President of SUSU. We joined the Southampton City of Sanctuary Board in 2020 and began work exploring the steps towards becoming a University of Sanctuary, a process inevitably slowed by the unprecedented demands of conducting university life during the pandemic. We signed the City of Sanctuary Pledge in 2022, and last year also fully funded and supported the introduction of two central Sanctuary Scholarships, as well as creating 7 Ukraine scholarships.
- Finally, UEB noted the Internal Audit Plan for 2023/24, and there was the regular review of the University Risk Register.