Author: Shaun Williams, Executive Director Engagement and Advancement
- UEB congratulated all our graduands who will be celebrating and receiving their undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral awards at Winter Graduation this week, at O2 Guildhall Southampton. UEB thanked all those who will be involved in making the ceremonies such special events for our students, and their families and friends.
- UEB noted the news that the next Research Excellence Framework (REF) has been delayed until December 2029, to recognise the complexities around data, processes, and codes of practice that institutions will face due to the proposed changes. Detailed updates to timelines will be published as soon as possible.
- UEB noted that the Office for Students has issued Vice-Chancellors with updates to its guidance on access and participation plans, to support submission of 2025-26 access and participation plans. This follows feedback and evaluation of the first group of providers, including our University, that have completed plans for 2024-25.
- UEB received an update on the Workload Principles Strategic Major Project, one of the strands of our People Strategic Plan and set up earlier this year to develop and implement a set of principles to guide the management of workload across the University. UEB heard the project has been making good progress, with extensive engagement with hundreds of colleagues across the University, and with the Campus Trade Unions. Five common themes were identified from the research, and will inform the drafting of future Workload Principles: reasonableness, equity, transparency, consultation and collaboration between staff and managers, and effective implementation. UEB endorsed the next phase of the Project which will include a further consultation exercise to develop and refine the principles themselves, and the development of a plan to ensure the principles are implemented and adhered to.
- UEB discussed plans for up to 36 individual Town Hall strategy meetings the Vice-Chancellor will be leading with staff during the first quarter of 2024. The purpose is two-fold: to explore with senior leaders each team’s response to our business planning priorities, including NSS and research performance, and to meet with staff to update them on the successful delivery of the Strategy to date. Further details will be provided shortly.
- Finally, there was the regular review of the University Risk Register.