Annual Academic Year Review
2007-2008
(17th edition)
Compiled by Academic Standards, Registry
September 2008
Submitted to Academic Board 25th Sept 2008
Contents
CONTENTS
Introduction1 Introduction 1
Student Information2 Student recruitment and admissions 2
2.1 Overview
2.2 Student admissions processes and procedures
2.3 Student applications
2.4 Education Liaison and Widening Participation
2.5 International recruitment
3 Student statistical data 6
3.1 Student numbers – table 1
3.2 Student profiles – tables 2 to 8
3.3 Progression – tables 9 to 24
Academic developments, activities and performance4 Strategic Planning 11
4.1 Planning and Data Analysis
4.2 Social Engagement
5 Academic developments 19
5.1 Course approvals, changes and withdrawals
5.2 Course validations
5.3 Periodic Review
5.4 Partnership Developments
5.5 Northbrook College
5.6 International memoranda of co-operation and partnership
5.7 Socrates Erasmus
6 Research 25
6.1 HEFCE income
6.2 Non-HEFCE income
6.3 Research Strategy
6.4 RAE 2008
6.5 Virtual Research Unit
6.6 Research Ethics and Governance
6.7 Research student numbers and trends
6.8 Diploma/Certificate in Research Methodology
6.9 Research and Skills Development
7 Internal Quality Assurance 29
7.1 Examination and Assessment
7.2 Regulations
7.3 External Examiners
7.3 Partner college review
8 National quality assurance 32
8.1 National developments
8.2 Quality Assurance Agency
8.3 OFSTED
9 Sustainability 35
9.1. Introduction
9.2. Evolution of Environmental Action Networks (EANs)
9.3. Learning and Teaching
9.4. Research
9.5. Economic and Social Engagement
9.6. University Infrastructure Development
9.7. External Links
Business, commercial and financial activities10 Business Services 40
10.1. Overview
10.2 Support Mechanisms for Economic and Social Development
10.3 Specific Iniatives and Services
10.4 Further examples of Economic and Social Engagement activity
11 Finance 45
11.1 Overview
11.2 Developments
Support for learning, teaching, research and administration12 Registry overview 49
12.1 Introduction
12.2 Differential fees and bursaries
12.3 Student Administration Improvement Programme (SAIP)
12.4 Freedom of Information/Data Protection
13 Staffing 51
13.1 Post and Staff Summary 2007/08
13.2 Staff Profile and Diversity
13.3 Recruitment and selection of staff
13.4 Formal procedures
13.5 Leavers
13.6 Staff Development
13.7 New Initiatives
13.8 Staffing Strategy
14 Centre for Learning and Teaching 74
14.1 Introduction
14.2 The University's Learning and Teaching Strategy
14.3 Credit-bearing courses
14.4 Outreach work with faculties, schools and course teams
14.5 Learning Technologies
14.6 Research
14.7 Major events and activities co-ordinated by CLT
14.8 External links and developments
15 Information Services 83
15.1 Corporate Plan Aim 1:The Curriculum
15.2 Corporate Plan Aim 2: Research
15.3 Corporate Plan Aim 3: Economic and Socail Engagement
15.4 Corporate Plan Aim 4: Student and Staff Experience
15.5 Corporate Plan Aim 5: Physical Environment
15.6 Corporate Plam Aim 6: Governance, Management and Relationships
16 Marketing and Communications 93
16.1 Corporate plan
16.2 Departmental resources
16.3 Review of 2007-08 activity
17 Residential and Catering Services 104
17.1 Residential Services
17.2 Catering Services
17.3 Community Liasion Officer
18 Estate and Facilities Management 109
18.1 Introduction
18.2 At Eastbourne
18.3 On the Falmer Campus
18.4 At Grand Parade
18.5 Office accomodation
18.6 At the Moulsecoomb site
18.7 Major maintenance
18.8 Minor Capital and Departmental Works
18.9 Energy, Water and the Environment
18.10 Space Management
18.11 Integrated Estates Data Management System (IDMS)
18.12 Facilities Management
18.13 Student Feedback
19 Health and Safety 117
19.1 Key developments
19.2 Fire risks, procedures and incidents
19.3 Accidents
19.4 Training
19.5 Health and Safety Executive Inspection
19.6 Occupational Health
19.7 Inspection Programme Summary
Student services and support20 Student Services 124
20.1 Introduction
20.2 New developments
20.3 Career planning and development
20.4 Chaplaincy
20.5 Disability
20.6 Health and Wellbeing
20.7 Nurseries
20.8 Counselling
20.9 Welfare
20.10 Forward planning
21 Sport and Recreation Service (SRS) 134
21.1 Introduction
21.2 Sports Development Unit
21.3 Learning and Teaching
21.4 Local, Regional and National Developments
21.5 Sports Facilities
21.6 Student Support
22 University of Brighton Students’ Union (UBSU) 140
22.1 University of Brighton Students' Union (UBSU)
22.2 UBSU on Campus
22.3 UBSU Publications
22.4 Student Welcome Bags
22.5 Freshers Fairs
22.6 Training and Development
22.7 UBSU Advice Centre
22.8 Academic Advice
22.9 Institutional Audit - Students' Written Submission
22.10 Course Representation
22.11 UBSU Elections
22.12 Student Activities
22.13 Sports Clubs
22.14 Additional Fee Income
Introduction 1. Introduction
1 Introduction
The Annual Academic Year Review 2007/08 provides the Academic Board with an informative and reflective overview of academic support activity and performance during the period 1st August 2007 to 31st July 2008. Its intention is to highlight central departments’ major developments, achievements and innovations during the period, rather than forming a comprehensive and detailed record of all the university’s activities.
The Review assists the Academic Board to fulfil its responsibilities towards the achievement of the aims and objectives of the university’s Corporate Plan and Annual Operating Statement. University staff may also find it a useful single source of information and reference regarding the range of the university’s academic support activities.
The information contained in the Review is particularly used to support the university’s annual process for assuring academic quality and enhancement (the ‘academic health’ process). It informs and complements the annual academic health reports prepared by schools and faculties in the autumn term. Together with these reports, it forms the focus of the annual academic health meeting of the Academic Standards Committee.
The timing of the production of the Review ensures that it is available at a sufficiently early stage in the academic year to contribute to debates within the university about the maintenance and enhancement of academic performance and the quality of the student experience.
The University of Brighton has produced an Annual Academic Year Review since its adoption of a University title in September 1992. It is now in its seventeenth edition.
AAYR 2007/08 - 1 - 17th Edition
Student information 2. Student recruitment and admissions
2 Student recruitment and admissions
2.1 Overview
This chapter summarises the work of the Recruitment and Admissions division of Registry during 2007-08, including a statistical overview of application rates for 2008 entry.
2.2 Student Admission Processes and Procedures
The division continues to monitor and advise colleagues and the senior management team on sector wide developments and the implications for policy and procedure. A revised Admissions Policy was developed to take account of the new QAA Code of Practice on Recruitment and Admissions. This was approved by Academic Board in 2007 and is available on staffcentral.
After some confusion the UK Border Agency (UKBA) criteria and procedures governing the operation of the new points based immigration system were announced. The division is leading the development of the university system to deal with the changes required for admission of international students.
The Statistical Consultancy Unit (SCU) ran its annual “Why Choose Brighton” and “Decliners” surveys of new students to ascertain what influences students to choose or refuse a place at Brighton.
Generally, the findings corresponded with previous years with the main influence being the availability of the particular course. The survey highlighted a continuing shift towards using the website, although the prospectus remains highly influential, the use by undergraduates is declining. Responses also indicated students wanted more course specific information. The main negative influences are fears over money, availability of halls and the general high cost of living in the area.
2.3 Student Applications
There has been a 4.09% decline in the number of students applying to study undergraduate courses at the university in 2008-09 (down from 28,883 in 2007-08 to 27,653 in 2008-09). This compares to a 7.31% downturn in applications in the sector overall, and a 4.81% downturn among the university’s main competitor institutions. However, the trend data shows an overall increase in applications to the university over the period 2006 -2008, up 11.6% for the two year period. This compares favourably to the national trend which shows an overall decrease of 1.54% for the period. By comparison our main competitors show a 0.85% increase for the period. Figures are based on UCAS data published at the end of June 2008, the latest available.
Undergraduate applications declined more sharply than applications to study at Foundation Degree level. The former are down by 8.4% (from 23,990 for 2007 entry to 21,968 for 2008 entry) compared with a 3.2% downturn in Foundation Degrees (down from 2,323 applications in 2007 to 2,248 applications in 2008).
Numbers for undergraduate and foundation degree application rates are based on UCAS data published at the end of March 2008, the latest available. Trend analysis shows that application rates vary by as little as +1 and -1 % between March and June.
All courses were entered into clear this year, with the exception of medicine. Current figures indicate that 729 offers were accepted by students during clearing for study at undergraduate and foundation degree level. The division was commended by admissions colleagues on the smooth operation of clearing and the quality of the advice and guidance to staff and students.
The university’s main competitor remains the University of Portsmouth. The other main competitors are Bournemouth, UWE, Kingston, Oxford Brookes, and Plymouth. This has not changed over the past few years. Aggregate data for competitor universities indicates that they have experienced a down turn in application rates of 4.8% from 2007 to the end of June 2008.
2.4 Education Liaison and Widening Participation
The three October open days saw record numbers of students and visitors. Additional campus tours and information where undertaken in an attempt to meet the continued growth in demand for visits to the university by students and their families. Campus tours ran monthly from October to December and from March to July. They were complemented by subject specific information days in Chelsea School, School of Service Management, School of Education
Brighton Business School, School of Applied Social Science and the geography/geology subject cluster.
The team ran 129 external events, including visits to schools, careers fairs and targeted HE Fairs (aimed at Year 12 students) and attended a number of European events, including a tour of selected international schools in the EU.
A new Widening Participation Manager has appointed, replacing the previous post which had been located in SPU and additional staff recruited to support WP work. During the year the team submitted a successful proposal to the Frank Buttle Trust and were awarded the Quality Mark for commitment to care leavers entering higher education. A new scheme for care leavers was launch. The scheme provides additional financial support, guaranteed student accommodation in the first year, and other support to students who have been in care. At the time of writing 22 care leavers were enrolled on courses, 8 of whom were eligible for support. The remainder are being assessed for eligibility.
The WP team also ran another very successful summer school which was attended by 50 year 11 pupils. The Professor Fluffy project was extended and 230 year 5 and 6 pupils in local schools were involved in these events.
2.5 International recruitment
2.5.1 Target markets
A review took place of existing and new, potential markets for international student recruitment. International School opportunities within Europe were explored as were Partner/Feeder College links within the UK. Support for these links was provided through visits/presentations by IO staff, HE day attendances and customised Open Days.
2.5.2 Agent & Overseas Exhibition activities
IO and academic staff attended a wide range of exhibitions in key country markets and provided counselling, student interviews, alumni relations activities in these countries. The agent network was reviewed in terms of performance indicators and potential network development and appropriate support activities e.g. Agent Training Week [Jan 08]. In conjunction with Marketing and academic contacts within Schools, IO staff contributed to the development of a coordinated strategy within the University to complement School/Faculty recruitment/development priorities. A particularly interesting initiative was the ‘in-house testing’ of students in-country in Taiwan in June 2008 by School of Language and IO staff with a view to joining pre-sessional/EMMA and then subsequent Masters programmes. Around 12 students, who would otherwise not have come to Brighton, appear to have been recruited as a result of this, at this stage. This will be repeated and extended in 2008-2009.
2.5.3 International Collaborations/Partnerships
IO staff initiated and contributed to the formalisation of a number of new international collaborations and partnerships in countries such as India, China, Japan and Korea. They also liaised with Faculties/Schools/Registry Partnerships with regard to the support for existing collaborations and partnerships and the recruitment/international development activities that might arise from these.
2.5.4 Internationalisation activities
IO staff contributed to the implementation of the Student Administrative Improvement Programme (SAIP) process reviews and their outcomes, in particular with regard to the PG admission review. The internationalisation audit involved steering group attendance, the facilitation of student focus groups, workshop attendance and the writing up of a series of audit reports. The i-graduate International Student Barometer was also commissioned to support the audit outcomes.
2.5.5 International Student Marketing
A new 2009 International student prospectus was produced in conjunction with Marketing staff, as were other international student marketing materials e.g. website development, banners, flyers, country-specific advertisements. The international student country fact sheets were up-dated, as were the guides to international student qualification equivalences. The Brighton Partner College International Foundation Year was established with City College, Brighton, Sussex Downs College and Sussex Coast College, Hastings with accompanying mini-prospectus and application form and application procedures. This should aid recruitment onto University of Brighton UG programmes from 2009 entry.
2.5.6 International Student Support
IO staff were involved, in conjunction with Student Services, in the preparations for the international student orientation week. On the basis of the International Student Barometer outcomes, IO staff contributed to meetings at which recommendations were proposed and discussed. The IO also organised an International Student Celebration event at the Sallis Benney theatre which was attended by almost 400 students, musicians and local dignitaries. Support was also provided for prospective University of Brighton international students at local Partner/Feeder colleges.