UNIVERSITY OF EXETER CNL/11/130
COUNCIL
A meeting of the Council was held on Thursday 15 December 2011 at 1.45pm in the Council Chamber, Northcote House.
PRESENT: Pro-Chancellor, Mr K R Seal (Chair)
Mr C J Allwood
Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Professor N Armstrong
Professor S A Banducci
Dr S Buck
Mr N Bull
Mr M Choules
Professor K E Evans
Mr R M P Hughes
Mr M Jordan
Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Professor J M Kay
Mr P Lacey
Dame Suzi Leather
Sir Robin Nicholson
Ms B Rigg
Professor S J Rippon
Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive, Professor Sir Steve Smith
IN ATTENDANCE: Registrar and Deputy Chief Executive, Mr D J Allen
Director of Human Resources, Mr S J C Cooper
Chief Executive of the Students’ Guild, Mr J R A Hutchinson
Executive Officer, Mrs E M James
Deputy Director of Finance, Mrs M Laithwaite
Director of Finance and Deputy Registrar, Mr J C Lindley
Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Professor M Overton
Director of Campus Services, Mr G Pringle
Director of Academic Services, Ms M I Shoebridge
Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Professor N J Talbot
Ms S Wilcox
APOLOGIES: President of the Students' Guild, Mr N Davis
Ms J Hargadon, Lady Studholme
11.106 Declarations of Interest
Members NOTED the register of members interests in relation to the business of the agenda including standing declarations of interest.
11.107 Minutes
The minutes of the meeting held on 13 October were CONFIRMED (CNL/11/97) as a correct record.
11.108 Matters Arising from the Minutes
(a) MINUTE 11.81(c) THOMAS HALL (COMMERCIAL IN CONFIDENCE)
(b) MINUTE 11.81(f) GEOFFREY POPE BUILDING (CONFIDENTIAL AND LEGALLY PRIVILEGED)
(c) MINUTE 11.81(g) SCIENCE PARK/INNOVATION CENTRE (CONFIDENTIAL AND LEGALLY PRIVILEGED)
(d) MINUTE 11.81(i) NORTHCOTT THEATRE (CONFIDENTIAL AND LEGALLY PRIVILEGED)
(e) MINUTE 11.86 THE UNIVERSITY AND PCMD (COMMERCIAL IN CONFIDENCE)
(f) UCU AND PAY NEGOTIATIONS (COMMERCIAL IN CONFIDENCE)
11.109 Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentistry (STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL)
Professor Steve Thornton attended for discussion on this item
11.110 Vice-Chancellor’s Report
(a) Council RECEIVED a report from the Vice-Chancellor (CNL/11/105), which covered the following topics:
(i) Announcements – the ‘Realising Opportunites’ programme had won ‘Widening Participation Intiative of the Year’ at this year’s Times Higher Awards; the University of Exeter Business School had won a prestigious Green Gown award in the Courses category for its ground-breaking One Planet MBA programme; the University has been ranked 174th out of nearly 3000 organisations in the Government’s carbon reduction commitment league table; Professional Services has been reaccredited with Investors in People; Academic Services has been accredited with the Customer First Standard in recognition of its excellent customer service.
(ii) Opening of the new University Reception - The University’s new reception was opened by our Chancellor, Baroness Floella Benjamin, on Friday 28 October, attended by staff, students, local residents and special guests.
(iii) Launch of Food Security and Land Use Alliance - The Universities of Exeter and Bristol, in partnership with Rothamsted Research have launched a major new initiative on food security research, combining the strengths of the three institutions across a range of disciplines, from biosciences to economics.
(iv) International Trip - Last month the Vice-Chancellor travelled with a University delegation to India, Hong Kong and China. It was an exceptionally successful trip, where five Memoranda of Understanding were signed with partner institutions – Indian Institute of Management, Indian Institute of Science, National Institute of Advanced Studies (India), Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and East China Normal University.
(v) Research Income - The 2010/11 target for research income (including the University of Plymouth’s projected PCMD income – last year c.£2.5m) was set at £44m (i.e. £41.5m for Exeter). In 2010-11 we achieved record Research Income of £46.3m, which is almost £5m more than the target.
(b) In addition to the written report, the Vice-Chancellor drew attention to the following:
· The Chair of Council and Council members congratulated the Vice-Chancellor for a prestigious ‘Global Leadership’ award from University of South Florida.
· The Vice-Chancellor REPORTED that issues surrounding Exeter’s admissions will be the most complicated that the institution will face in the year ahead and importantly it is complicated at a national and local level.
· The Sector is splitting enormously with regards to what is happening with applications for 2012/13. Exeter is 3.2% down this week, comparators 7% down, sector 10% down alongside a 4% reduction in cohort size. The complication is that 3 or 4 different admissions markets are emerging, and the current rules do not apply. The Vice-Chancellor REPORTED that we are dealing with it well at Exeter and we are as prepared as we can be for the 2012/13 intake.
· The Director of Academic Services will take over from Jeremy Lindley as Deputy Registrar to support the Registrar from 1st January 2012 with the title Deputy Registrar and Director of Academic Services on a range of projects, particularly so that we optimise resources for improving the student experience. Council members congratulated Michele Shoebridge on her new appointment.
· VCEG APPROVED the recommendation from the Task and Finish group looking at academic progression and career development for education. This initiative establishes Exeter as the only research intensive institution with a fully integrated system of reward for staff working on scholarship.
· The inaugural Exeter impact awards event took place last week, it was an excellent event. Winners for the following categories were:
§ Outstanding social and cultural impact: ‘Let’s talk about sex’ by Dr Kate Fisher and Dr Rebecca Langlands.
§ Outstanding impact in commerce and industry: ‘Winds of change: insurance risk pricing for clusters of natural catastrophes’ by Professor David Stephenson.
§ Outstanding International Impact: ‘Transforming the lives of children with diabetes’ Professor Andrew Hattersley, Professor Sian Ellard, Dr Maggie Sheppard, Dr Sarah Flanagan.
§ Outstanding Regional Impact: ’Unchartered waters, leading the world in renewable energy’ by Professor George Smith and team.
§ Outstanding impact in public policy & services: ‘Cleaning up our act: the hormonal impact of chemical discharges on fish’ by Professor Charles Tyler and team.
§ The Bright Future Award: ‘Shedding new light on dementia’ by Dr David Llewellyn.
§ Student impact: ‘The Heart of Borneo Project: conservation, sustainability and community empowerment’ by Tim van Berkel & Martin Holland.
The event demonstrated that impact is incredibly important for our research. Sir Robin Nicholson REPORTED that external visitors had described the evening as uplifting and inspirational, the evening had done the University immense credit. Sir Robin congratulated all involved in the evening.
· The Registrar REPORTED that a new Director of Strategic Planning and Change had recently been appointed to replace Patrick Kennedy. Dr Steve Chadwick from Durham will join Exeter on 1 April 2012.
11.111 Campaign and Campaign Feasibility
Susie Hills attended for discussion on this item
Council RECEIVED a report on a Campaign to secure a more Independent Future for the University of Exeter (CNL/11/106).
Chair of Council noted that the external report provided excellent context and advice, and congratulated Susie Hills, Sean Fielding and their teams on an impressive report.
Susie Hills introduced the paper, and made the following points:
Working targets have been developed and are being tested for the next campaign, following the successful first serious campaign for the University which raised £25.7m a year earlier than planned. Planning is geared around a philanthropic income target of at least £60m, which, if deployed strategically could deliver additional research income of up to £100m by 2018. This will have a significant impact on the student experience with at least 50% delivering direct benefits for students.
We have learnt that we need to prioritise our research on prospects, focus on themes and that building stronger relationships with donors and the next campaign should build on benefit for the whole university and look further than just philanthropic giving.
The paper outlines a two phase process for developing the next campaign, this proposal outlines phase one of feasibility that is necessary to shape the campaign. To test what has been successful elsewhere, UK and US campaign research has been used. The paper outlined a series of recommendations that Council was invited to comment on and approve.
There has been a considerable level of internal and external consultation which will support the constant process of iteration for this report.
Susie Hills REPORTED that the report looks at how we can become more independent, taking a more strategic approach to how we deploy philanthropic funds and go beyond philanthropy. It has been very useful to work with Sean Fielding and his team in Research & Knowledge Transfer to explore how the campaign can benefit both areas.
Excellent feedback has been received from supporters and they are keen to see an account management approach develop so that their relationship with Exeter, whether it is funding research or a gift is managed as one piece. Efficiencies would need to be explored in RKT and DARO to achieve the account management model before additional investment is considered. It took approximately 15% of the campaign total last time to fund the overall campaign. The sector average is 25%.
Council members DISCUSSED an endowment and how large a percentage could form a contribution to an endowment from each gift received during the next campaign.
The Registrar REPORTED that the paper reflects discussions and work that has emerged from the earned income report that was brought to Council last year. The Registrar REPORTED that we have all of the key pieces in place for the next campaign. The timing of the Diamond Jubilee gives us a really positive framework to work with.
The Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research REPORTED that the Research & Knowledge Management Group strongly supported this proposal and were keen to see themes that would allow for and lever funding for new discovery and new technology alongside broader themes such as the environment and sustainability.
The Chair of Council REPORTED that the process has evolved and DARO has moved from being on the side of operations to something that is central to how we operate. The Chair of Council congratulated Susie Hills and colleagues on an outstanding report. Council APPROVED the recommendations and asked to see Phase 2 of the feasibility report in due course.
11.112 Financial Forecast 2011/12
Council RECEIVED the financial forecast 2011/12 (CNL/11/107).
The Deputy Director of Finance REPORTED a small movement on the bottom line, made up of one or two large movements such as tuition fee income being down by £3.5m and the student residences shortfall which has masked an increase of £11m.
The forecast historic cost position of the University for 2011/12 is now a surplus of £1.0m, compared to the budget surplus approved by Council on 14 July 2011 of £1.2m, as shown in Appendix 1. The forecast surplus represents 0.4% of University total income. The historic cost position and the operating surplus are currently the same as there are no exceptional items included in the forecast. A target of £5.0m operating surplus was set by Council. The current forecast position is below the target set and therefore there is no bonus provision in the forecast. It is still early on in the year, colleagues in Finance are confident that the situation will improve.
The budget for 2011/12 included a total central contingency of £3.0m. The release of £1.5m teaching contingency outlined above leaves £1.5m in the reforecast comprising £1.0m research and £0.5m general contingency. At this stage in the year not all risks have been reviewed and therefore the £1.5m central contingency will be retained. In addition a £0.6m contingency is still held against the impact of reductions in funding of research grants by the Research Councils. Colleges are reviewing staffing plans and applying realistic appointment dates which has released £2.6m favourable to the budget as a result. Colleges are being encouraged to advertise posts to appoint staff in time for the start of the academic year. The University is forecasting to meet all bank covenants and financial parameters at the year-end.
The Director of Campus Services REPORTED on the residences situation, there is a dynamic student residential market in the city and the University’s stock has increased at the same time. There is a significant number of empty beds in the city and the University has mothballed 200 beds at St Luke’s campus this year. 120 bed spaces at Streatham have subsequently been taken up by INTO. Rents as a result will come down which is a positive thing for returning students. In year, the team leading on residences communications strategy are developing new marketing approaches to attract students to our accommodation.
11.113 Bio-systems Engineering Proposal
Council RECEIVED a presentation on the Bio-systems Engineering (BSE) building proposal from Professor Nick Talbot, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Knowledge Transfer).
Professor Nick Talbot presented the academic vision for the BSE building. The building will be adjacent to the Geoffrey Pope building which already houses Biosciences activity. It will also have a physical link to the Physics building and provide a means for linking a lot of activity in the physical and natural sciences.
Academic activity is inherently cross disciplinary including a broad spectrum of staff, the proposal importantly encourages engineers linking with the other sciences around areas such as manipulating organisms to bring about beneficial products and outcomes. The building will allow us to look beyond the current horizons of systems biology.
This cross-fertilisation could lead to positive developments such as biomarker development, a better understanding of infectious disease and medically focussed work. It will fundamentally be a science building but have a strong biomedical component.
There will be space for 25 independent research groups and also support a large number of PGR students. The building and additional laboratory space also provides an opportunity for developing and improving STEMM undergraduate courses for the AAB market.
The building concept has received Infrastructure Strategy Group approval, alongside approval of the option of building as large a building as possible with the shell concept where we equip half of the building and challenge the academics to raise the rest of the funding. It provides an interesting way to lever additional external income, and has the potential to bring in more funding from PCMD.