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<\/p>\nAuthor: Shaun Williams, Executive Director of Engagement and Advancement<\/p>\n
Welcome to the first UEB blog of 2020.<\/p>\n
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The Vice-Chancellor started today\u2019s meeting by wishing everyone a Happy New Year, and welcoming Richard Middleton to his first UEB as our new interim Chief Operating Officer<\/a> (COO).<\/strong><\/p>\n A number of issues were discussed under the Vice-Chancellor\u2019s Business<\/strong> section at the start of this week\u2019s meeting:<\/p>\n – The Vice-Chancellor referenced the Queen\u2019s Speech<\/a><\/strong> of 19 December. He said there was nothing too surprising in respect of Higher Education, but it appears likely the new Government will be looking further at issues including the Augar review of post-18 education and funding, freedom of speech, value for money and grade inflation.<\/p>\n – The Vice-Chancellor updated UEB on what has been happening at a national level in respect of the industrial dispute<\/strong> around pay and pensions affecting a number of universities, including Southampton.<\/p>\n – UEB discussed and approved terms of reference for a new Planning and Resources Group (PRG)<\/strong>. There is a recognition that UEB, as the senior executive committee providing advice to the Vice-Chancellor, can at times focus too much on the detail of operational delivery and resourcing rather than on its principal focus of the core University strategy and high-level overarching management principles. This has the effect of UEB getting involved in too much detail and then not being able to give enough time to the really strategic items and to those key management issues where an overarching university position is important. Although the resourcing of any decision is important, there should be a clear separation of the discussion and agreement to the principles of strategic direction from the detailed implications and planning for this.<\/p>\n Once fully established the new PRG, which will meet monthly, will manage the University\u2019s Business Planning cycle, ensuring that Faculty and Professional Services plans align to the University\u00a0strategy and that these plans are scrutinised, supported and resourced properly. The PRG will provide updates to UEB, Finance Committee and to Council on progress, outcomes and implications from Business Planning. It will monitor the University\u2019s finances and wider business plan performance across all its operations, supported by monthly management information.<\/p>\n Membership of the new PRG will include the Vice-Chancellor, the Vice-Presidents, the Executive Director Finance and Planning, the Chief Operating Officer, with other UEB members attending as required.<\/p>\n The rest of today\u2019s meeting focused on updates on 10-Year Plan<\/strong> projects<\/a>, and included:<\/p>\n