NEWCASTLE UNIVERSITY
C O U R T
8 May 2015
Present: The Chancellor (in the Chair), Chairman of Council and Pro-Chancellor, Vice-Chancellor, Ms Claire Boothman (President, Students’ Union), Sir Peter Carr, Professor Suzanne Cholerton, Mr Alan Clarke, Sir Michael Darrington, Professor Richard Davies, Professor Robert Edwards, Mr Colin FitzPatrick, Ms Teresa Graham, Professor Steve Homans, Mr Jack Jeffery, Mr Peter Johnson, Mr Antony Jones, Lord Judd, Professor Eileen Kaner, Ms Abi Kelly, Miss Florence Kirkby, Professor Patrick Lavery, Mr Stephen Lightley, Mr Richard Maudslay, Councillor Sue Pearson, Professor Louise Robinson, Mr Mark Scrimshaw, Professor Mark Shucksmith, Mr Nitin Shukla, Mr Greg Smith, Mr Michael Stephenson, Professor Tony Stevenson, Ms Sarah Stewart, Professor Phil Taylor, Ms Hannah Underwood, Mr Rob Williamson, Rt Rev Martin Wharton, Ms Angela Woodburn
In attendance: Mr Richard Dale (Executive Director of Finance), Dr John Hogan (Registrar), Mrs Yvonne Lee (Executive Assistant) with Sir Terry Farrell, Mr Max Farrell and Ms Clare Rogers (Director of Estates) for item 3.
1. MINUTES
The Minutes of the meeting held on 14 October 2014 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.
[Circulated with the agenda as Document A]
2. REPORTS FROM COURT STEERING COMMITTEE
Considered:
(a) First Report from Court Steering Committee
(b) Second Report from Court Steering Committee
(c) Third Report from Court Steering Committee
[Circulated with the agenda as Documents B-D]
Resolved that:
(a) Membership of Court Steering Committee and Nominations Committee
Mr Richard Maudslay’s term of office as both Chairman of Court Steering Committee and member of Nominations Committee be extended for a further period of one year to 31 July 2016.
(b) Lay Membership of Court
i. The following members be re-appointed to serve on Court form 1 August 2015 until 31 July 2018, subject to their willingness to continue to serve:
Mr Alan Clarke
Ms Fiona Hall
Professor Patrick Lavery
Ms Claire Morgan
Ms Chi Onwurah
Mr Jonathan Parkinson
ii. The following be appointed to serve on Court from 1 August 2015 until 31 July 2018, subject to their willingness to serve:
Ms Parveen Akhtar
Ms Lucy Armstrong
Ms Lorna Moran MBA
Mr Paul Polman
Dr Robert Teoh
Mr Paul Woolston
iii. In the event of one of the individuals in (ii) declining on this occasion, Ms Pummi Mattu be offered membership from 1 August 2015 to 31 July 2018.
iv. Court record its appreciation of the Rt Rev Martin Wharton’s long and valued service as a lay member.
(c) Honorary Fellowships of the University
Honorary Fellowships be awarded to:
Mr Michael Bird
Ms Cathryn Harvey
Mr Ian Shott
3. THE COHERENT CAMPUS
Received:
(a) A briefing paper summarising the Coherent Campus initiative.
[Circulated with the agenda as Document E]
(b) A presentation on the above from Sir Terry Farrell.
Noted that:
1. Sir Terry Farrell began assisting the University with the Masterplan in 2002 and, following Professor Brink’s appointment as Vice-Chancellor, further development of the Masterplan has been through the Coherent Campus Initiative.
2. Most cities and individual institutions focus their capital projects on development of buildings, ignoring the space between. The Coherent Campus initiative seeks to integrate the campus with our major partners, the City Council and the Royal Victoria Infirmary; linking all buildings through practical and visually attractive routes and spaces which are utilised by staff, students and the public in general.
3. The possibilities for the ‘public realm’ are a key component of any coherent campus projects. The University’s re-development of Richardson Road student accommodation, together with our forthcoming extension to the Centre for Physical Recreation and Sport, provides an opportunity to consider how the ‘public realm’ will connect this area to the central campus.
4. The University’s corporate visual identity is visible on its buildings, with those facing the Haymarket acting as the University’s ‘front door’ to the City. A proposal for a Claremont Road gateway for visitors to the campus is also currently under consideration.
5. While demolition of some buildings, for example the Museum of Antiquities, enhances the campus, in this case bringing into focus the iconic Armstrong Building and making way for the Student Forum; some buildings present greater challenges. The current Boiler House cannot be removed for practical reasons. The University will relocate the Cavitation Tunnel, and is currently looking at the possibility of a glass frontage for the building, making it a more integral part of the Student Forum space, and suitable for Congregation celebrations.
6. Recent developments, with students living and learning on the central campus, have made it a more vibrant area, with the Student Forum used in a variety of ways and which the students seem to appreciate greatly.
7. The importance of accessibility for buildings is considered in all campus developments. A disabled member of staff ‘test drives’ all new improvements undertaken by the Estate Support Service and student consultation is included in planning for refurbishments and new buildings.
8. Science Central is part of the overall Masterplan with opportunities for the University to move certain services/schools to that site. The acquisition of existing buildings is being considered alongside new developments with clear routes to the main campus part of the planning process.
9. All new developments should take account of the possibilities for virtual communication and it was confirmed that we now hold Virtual Open Days with Google Earth showing the campus to potential students.
10. Many campuses nationwide are being developed, with some improving their environment, while others have not responded to the challenges. This University has transformed its relationship with the City and engaged with the public through the Coherent Campus initiative.
11. Clear markers to our Societal Challenge themes should be included in our Masterplan. As a world-class civic university, our focus on the public realm on campus is an expression of how we link up with society, while consideration of the environmental impact of the campus in terms of air quality and number of green spaces links to our Sustainability theme.
Resolved that:
Sir Terry Farrell be thanked for an excellent presentation on his continuing work with the University.
4. VICE-CHANCELLOR’S BUSINESS
Received:
A report from the Vice-Chancellor on current issues within the University.
[Circulated with the agenda as Document F]
Noted that:
1. The Research Excellence Framework results published in December 2014, saw the University ranked 16th overall for Research Power and 26th for GPA, a slight improvement on our former ranking. We had some pre-election research successes with £10M Government funding for Science Central and our research partnership with the Food and Environment Research Agency (FERA).
2. The University currently has less than 10% of its research funding from industry and this was seen as a risk. It was confirmed that this is part of the strategy of focusing on the REF.
3. The success of the University’s Societal Challenge Themes was noted and this will help with future research impact case studies.
4. The HEFCE does not regard the University as a high risk institution.
5. Student satisfaction remains high and we are having success in the virtual learning environment with over 50,000 participants in our Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs).
6. In response to a query about the University’s postgraduate research numbers, it was confirmed that a major trend in this area is funding through Doctoral Training Centres.
7. The dilemma of balancing collaborations with other universities and being in competition for student numbers, research funding etc was sector wide, but the University has had good success with partnerships and can be looked on as part of a ‘Northern Powerhouse’ in the level of its research funding in comparison with the other local institutions.
8. Rankings are important, particularly to sponsors of international students and it is important for the University to maintain a balance between academic excellence and what we want to achieve in terms of cross-disciplinary research and civic engagement, which are not currently well-reflected in the REF.
9. Our overseas campuses are doing well, with NUMed poised to move into research as well as teaching. We need more than just a teaching presence in Singapore and are currently re-negotiating our contract. We already have a research presence in China through our collaboration with Xiamen and we are currently planning to extend this to teaching.
10. Professor Tony Stevenson has been appointed to the role of Deputy Vice-Chancellor and will oversee all corporate projects.
11. An appointment has been made to the Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Humanities and Social Sciences role, with Professor Julie Sanders, currently Vice-Provost (Teaching and Learning), University of Nottingham Ningbo China, taking up her post in September.
12. Our Development and Alumni Relations Office has been restructured with an excellent new Head of Development in Teri Wishart and the University’s strategy for obtaining philanthropic funding is under revision.
13. Both Veryan Johnston, Executive Director of Human Resources and Professor Steve Homans, Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Science, Agriculture and Engineering, have announced their intentions to retire at the end of the year.
14. Profile raising is continuing with our ‘Raising the Bar’ initiative, led by Professor Chris Day, Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Medical Sciences.
5. VICE-CHANCELLOR’S QUESTIONS
Received from Olivia Grant:
Could the Vice-Chancellor update Court on the University, Russell Group and Higher Education Sector responses to the major parties’ policies and political comments during the General Election and share his initial thoughts on the likely impact on HE of the result?
Received from Mark Scrimshaw (subsequent to preparation of agenda papers):
Does the University pay the Living Wage and insist its contractors do too?
Received:
An oral response from the Vice-Chancellor.
Noted that:
1. Court congratulated one of its members, Chi Onwurah, who had increased her majority in retaining her Newcastle Upon Tyne Central seat.
2. All sector bodies undertook scenario planning during the election to consider key issues for higher education institutions arising from the various policies in the areas of fees and funding, student numbers and visa regulations, which would all impact on the University.
3. A Conservative victory suggested that there would be no reduction in fees, possibly even the opposite.
4. The review of research funding led by Sir Paul Nurse may lead to more funding for innovation at the expense of ‘blue skies’ research with a possible re-structuring of the research funding councils.
5. It would be important for cities and institutions North of Manchester to be included in the Chancellor’s ideas for a ‘Northern Powerhouse’.
6. There could be a possible impact resulting from the Scottish vote if the SNP decide to make education free for all students, including those south of the border.
7. The non-fee component of university funding may be subject to austerity measures.
8. The possible re-structure of BIS under the new Secretary of State may impact on a major part of university funding.
9. The possibility of Teaching Quality Excellence funding needs to be monitored, though we are currently in a good position.
10. The Conservative policy on immigration and visas and future Home Office measures are likely to have a major impact on universities, with the continuing inclusion of student numbers in immigration figures problematic. The possibility of close attention on London campuses means we need to be vigilant in this area.
11. The possibility of a ‘No’ vote in any referendum on Europe would have major research funding implications, with EU funding an area in which we currently do well.
12. The difficulty of making higher education institutions partly responsible for preventing extremism was also a major issue resulting from Conservative Party policy.
13. In response to Mark Scrimshaw’s question it was confirmed that the University pays ‘a living wage’ but has not signed up to the national agreement on this. Remuneration Committee, in consultation with the relevant Unions, monitors this area carefully each year. Our payments and pay increases to the lowest paid members of our workforce are in line with the City Council and other major employers.
14. We do not outsource any of our cleaning or similar services so the issue of contractors’ payments is not applicable.
6. PAST COURT PRESENTATIONS: UPDATES FOR MEMBERS
Reported that:
Sir George Russell had suggested that, following the excellent and informative presentations received at each Court meeting, members might find it useful to receive an update on each topic, perhaps two years’ on.
Received:
An update on the presentation received by Court at its meeting in May 2013, delivered by Professor Tony Stevenson, on the University’s agreement with INTO.
[Circulated with the agenda as Document G]
Noted that:
1. The Joint Venture is still performing well, though future Home Office initiatives may impact on our activities in this area.
2. Currently student numbers, satisfaction and progression rates are all good with the extension to the Haymarket Teaching Centre contributing to campus life.
3. The development of our London Joint Venture with INTO is progressing well.
4. Court members who would like to re-visit any issues considered at previous meetings were encouraged to request this via the Registrar.
7. HONORARY DEGREES
Reported that:
Honorary Degrees Committee invites nominations in writing for the following year's Congregations. Any member of Court, Council, the Alumni Consultative Group and Academic Board may make a nomination, and support for nominees for honorary degrees should be sought only from these bodies. Where several members make a joint nomination, one should be shown as the nominator and the others as supporters.
Principles for the award of Honorary Degrees outlines the criteria for awarding honorary degrees and should be consulted before making a nomination.
[Circulated with the agenda as Document H]
The committee welcomes nominees from a diverse range of backgrounds.
Nominations for 2016 will close on 28 August 2015. To make a nomination please complete an Honorary Degree Nomination Form.
[Circulated with the agenda as Document J]
Members were asked to note that when making a nomination for an honorary degree or honorary fellowship, this should be done in the strictest confidence and must not be discussed with the potential recipient. Successful nominations will be publicised following approval by the awarding body (i.e. Senate or Court respectively) in advance of the relevant honorary ceremony.