Ms Riona Bell (Scottish Funding Council) Ms Jackie Brown (Welsh Assembly Government) Mr Robin Jackson (Higher Education Funding Council for England)

Transcription

1 Meeting 07/07/06 Reference HEFCW/06/Min109 Minutes of the 109 th meeting of the Council held on 7 th July 2006 at HEFCW Offices, Llanishen, Cardiff Present: Members: Observers: Officers: Apologies: Professor Sir Roger Williams (Chairman) Professor Philip Gummett (Chief Executive) Mrs Wendy Heppell Mr Tim Rees Professor Garel Rhys Professor Sir Brian Smith Professor Nigel Stott Ms Riona Bell (Scottish Funding Council) Ms Jackie Brown (Welsh Assembly Government) Mr Robin Jackson (Higher Education Funding Council for England) Mr David Blaney Mr Roger Carter Mr Dale Hall Ms Niina Hammond Mr Richard Hirst Ms Celia Hunt Ms Emma Raczka Dr Len Arthur, Mrs Tina Stephens and Dr Geoffrey Thomas. 1 INTRODUCTORY REMARKS, APOLOGIES AND DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST 1.1 The following members declared interest in relation to agenda item 11 ( Reconfiguration and Collaboration HEFCW/06/43): Professor Philip Gummett whose partner is employed at the Swansea Institute of Higher Education. Professor D Garel Rhys as Professor Emeritus at Cardiff University. Professor Sir Brian Smith as international ambassador for Cardiff University. Professor Nigel Stott as Professor Emeritus at Cardiff University. 1.2 Members congratulated Professor Sir Roger Williams on his recent knighthood. 1.3 The Chairman expressed his thanks to Mrs Wendy Heppell for her contribution to Council during her time as member as this would be her last Council meeting. 1

2 2. MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 5 TH MAY 2006 (HEFCW/06/Min108) Resolved: That the minutes be accepted as a true record of the meeting held on 5 th May MATTERS ARISING There were no matters arising from the meeting. 4 CHIEF EXECUTIVE S REPORT (HEFCW/06/CE4) 4.1 Supplementary Income Stream (SIS) plans Council noted that formal plans had been received from HEIs for 2006/07, and that officers were broadly content with the plans and on target to provide HEI responses where necessary. The practical interpretation of distance to travel on Widening Access, however, presented some challenges. 4.2 Graham Review of Part-time Provision Council noted that the final Report had been published and that implications for the Council arising from the recommendations would depend upon the response from the Assembly Government. Further noted: i) that the recommended temporary premium funding stream was, in the view of officers, an unnecessary expedient. that any proposal to increase the part-time fee waiver would require careful analysis as currently institutions draw down only half of the money available. 4.3 Strategic Dialogue Meeting with HEW and CHEW, 5 th and 6 th September 2006, UW Lampeter Council noted the proposed agenda from HEW for the Strategic Dialogue meeting at UW Lampeter in early September. It was further noted that the Council Chair had a diary clash on 5 th September between the HEW/CHEW lunch and Council meeting and the Assembly ELL s Ministerial Advisory Group meeting which required resolution. 4.4 Pay Position update Council noted that the revised pay offer for and had been accepted by staff in a ballot by 48 votes to 1. Resolved: Members endorsed the Chief Executive s thanks to the Assembly colleagues for their work on the matter and to Council staff for their goodwill and patience during the protracted process. 2

3 4.5 Notes of the Members Workshop, 4 th May 2006 Council noted a summary of Members Workshop key discussion points. As had been requested, a number of league tables had been examined, and it had been concluded that there was nothing systematic about the bases of their compilation. 4.6 Annual Reports and Council noted the draft Annual Report and progress on the preparation of the Annual Report. Further noted: i) that feedback on the draft report for should be directed to the Communications Manager i) that as previously agreed by Council, a press conference would be organised at the HEFCW offices formally to present the Report, which might be tied into a public meeting to be held on the IES Report on Graduate Employability. that the launch of the Annual Report would be scheduled for the Institutional Visit at Aberystwyth on 7 th December 2006, as well as in Cardiff (date tbc). The following paragraphs are exempt from disclosure under section 43 (contains information which is commercially sensitive) of the Freedom of Information Act 4.7 Evaluation of Institution Race Equality Policies and Reports and 4.8 Foundation Degree Study 4.9 Strategic Review of Modern Languages Council had previously noted the outcome of a consultation with the sector on Modern Foreign Languages provision in HEFCW-funded HEIs. Authority had been delegated to the Chief Executive to give final approval of up to 100k as recommended by the Advisory Group. A resubmitted proposal had been received from the sector which had been approved. The project was due for completion in summer 2007 and would be led by the Open University in Wales, working with the Centre for Information and Languages Teaching Cymru (CILT) alongside seven other institutions Council Meeting dates 2007 Council agreed the proposed 2007 meeting dates and locations including a number of Council meetings that were linked with Institutional Visits. The date of the Institutional Visit to the University of Glamorgan had not yet been confirmed. Council also noted that the Minister for Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills would be unable to attend the Council meeting on 19 th October 2006, but that a revised visit date would be confirmed shortly. Resolved: to confirm the 2007 Council meeting dates. 3

4 4.11 Part-time Fee Waiver Scheme Council noted that from 2006/07, the part-time fee waiver scheme had moved from funding on the basis of Unit of Resource to funding on the basis of Unit of Funding. Officers proposed that the proxy full-time fee equivalent continue to be used and this be set at 1,200 (fte) for 2006/07 to be increased by GDP annually. Resolved: to agree the continuation of the proxy full-time fee equivalent for 2006/07 as 1,200 (fte) and increased year-on-year Welsh Medium Costs and Options Appraisal Update Council noted two additional tabled papers: Options Appraisal: Models for Welsh Medium Teaching in Higher Education and Final draft report of the Study of the Costs of Provision through the Medium of Welsh in HEIs in Wales. It further noted: i) that the final report of the Options Appraisal would be published via the University of Wales website on 10 th July 2006; that Members would have the opportunity to give full feedback on the Report contents at its meeting on 22nd September Resolved: to endorse the publication by the University of Wales of the Options Appraisal Report on its website without endorsing its content Energy and Water Targeting and Monitoring System: Proposed Trial at UWIC Council noted that UWIC had agreed to undertake a trial of a new energy and water targeting and monitoring system and to share findings with the sector. Further noted that the additional 42k needed by UWIC to carry out the trial and the proposal had been authorised from the Chief Executive s miscellaneous fund by the Chief Executive under delegated authority ESRC s Quantitative Methods Initiative Council noted that the Chief Executive, acting under delegated authority, had approved a contribution of approximately 15k had been authorised from the Chief Executive s miscellaneous fund for a joint scoping study for the ESRC s Quantitative Methods Initiative Improving the HE Admissions Process Council noted that following consultation with the sector, the DfES had published its recommendations. Council noted the recommendations on improving the admissions process, including a proposal to establish a system for post-qualification applications (PQA) from CORPORATE GOVERNANCE ISSUES (HEFCW/06/37) MEMBERS ONLY 5.1 Council received and noted: 4

5 the outcomes of the 2005 and 2006 self-assessments of Council effectiveness and Members Development needs; the revised Management Statement and Financial memorandum from the Assembly; the Council s current position on Committees. The following paragraphs are exempt from disclosure under section 36 of the Freedom of Information Act (contains information potentially prejudicial to the effective conduct of public affairs) 5.2 to ITT REVIEW: RECONFIGURING PROVISION (HEFCW/06/38) 6.1 Council received and considered two additional tabled papers: ITT Reconfiguration: Sector responses received at the end of June 2006 and correspondence from the Minister giving indicative ITT intake targets dated 5 th July Council was reminded of the declaration of interest of the Chief Executive whose wife is employed as a part-time PGCE tutor at SIHE. The following paragraphs are exempt from disclosure under section 36 of the Freedom of Information Act (contains information potentially prejudicial to the effective conduct of public affairs) 6.3 to REVIEW OF RESEARCH ASSESSMENT (HEFCW/06/39) 7.1 Council received an update on developments in respect of the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) since the Chancellor s budget statement on 23 March 2006, including issues for further consideration and the Treasury/DfES-led consultation document. i) the consultation document had been published on the DfES website on 13 th June 2006 with a response deadline of 13 th October i iv) the document proposed that following the 2008 RAE, research assessment and, in England, the allocation of QR funding, should be based on metrics and outlined five possible metrics-based models for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) subjects which would allocate funding in proportion to external research income. at briefing sessions held for Heads of HEIs in Wales, they had confirmed the importance of maintaining an independent, UK-wide method for assessing research quality. the need to consider the Assembly s emerging Science Strategy. 5

6 v) the risks of tying QR funding to Research Council funding decisions. v that similar concerns had been expressed by HEFCE. The HEFCE observer also acknowledged the role of HEFCW and SFC in shaping the June 13 th consultation document. Resolved: that the developments outlined in the paper be noted. 8. COUNCIL SUB-COMMITTEES: PROPOSAL TO RESTRUCTURE THE REACHING WIDER NATIONAL STEERING GROUP (HEFCW/06/40) 8.1 Council received and considered a recommendation from the Reaching Wider National Steering Group that it be restructured to become a Widening Access Sub-Committee of Council. 8.2 that in line with the Remit Letter , the new committee would encompass those broader widening access issues not currently covered by the Learning and Teaching sub-committee, and would ensure a useful mechanism to feed these issues back to Council. 8.3 that discussion of funding allocations would not form part of the terms of references for the committee. Resolved: i) to approve the restructuring of the current Reaching Wider National Steering Group to become the Widening Access Committee of the Council. to approve the remit and membership of the Committee. 9. CONSERVATOIRE STATUS (HEFCW/06/41) 9.1 Council received and considered a request from Trinity College, Carmarthen for Conservatoire status for its performing arts courses and for funding in accordance. 9.2 that the definition of an institution with conservatoire status had been researched and advice sought from other funding councils and the Federation of Conservatoires. 9.3 that the criteria for conservatoire status describe an institution, or department, whose primary business is the provision of intensive training of high quality students in the performing arts, with staff and physical resources reflecting the intensive nature of the provision. They describe an institution whose raison d être and modus operandi are quite distinct from other mainstream higher education. The distinction is not solely concerned with the conservatoire level of the performance of the students; it concerns the essence of the institution or department. 9.4 that experience of developments with the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama make clear the very considerable capital and recurrent expenditure 6

7 required to establish and sustain an institutions of conservatoire status. In the light of this experience, it would seem undesirable to encourage the development of a second conservatoire in Wales. Resolved: i) to confirm that the performing arts delivery at Trinity College, Carmarthen were not eligible for conservatoire status. that Council saw no case for funding of a second institution with conservatoire status within Wales. 10. MEDICAL EDUCATION (HEFCW/06/42) 10.1 Council received and considered a paper detailing developments in Medical Education in Wales following a recent meeting of the Joint Medical Advisory Committee (JMAC) on which Council is represented that with regards to Dental Education, two counties in England had commenced a programme training dental students within the community in order to increase the likelihood of such graduates remaining in those communities. This was a successful proposal that would be flagged to the Assembly. The following paragraphs are exempt from disclosure under section 22 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (information intended for future publication) 10.3 and RECONFIGURATION AND COLLABORATION (HEFCW/06/43) 11.1 Council received and considered a paper detailing the position of proposed and existing partnerships and developments within Reconfiguration and Collaboration in the sector, as well as a tabled paper outlining the proposed use of Reaching Higher Funding the position on proposed and existing partnerships the funding balance of 7.765m for , based on indicative commitments. The following paragraphs are exempt from disclosure under sections 36 (contains information potentially prejudicial to the conduct of public affairs) and 43 (contains information which is commercially sensitive) of the Freedom of Information Act to

8 12. ADJUSTMENTS TO TEACHING FUNDING MODEL (HEFCW/06/44) 12.1 Council received and considered a paper outlining the changes, both actioned and proposed, to the funding model, which had accounted for the new fee regime from 2006/07 and requests made from the sector the application of the Council s agreement to move from the basis of funding by Units of Resource to calculation on Units of Funding only, and the continuation of this formula for 2007/ the application of the new widening access premium of 215 per annum per student in respect of students recruited from Community First areas and those difficult to retain from 2006/ that the Disabled Student allowance of 200 per capita had not been increased since 2003/04 and that an increase to 220 should take place to facilitate institutional statutory responsibilities in this area one institution s request that a franchised out full time cell be included in the funding model. Further noted the impact that this would have on both the sector and the Council s data. Resolved: i) that the Disabled Student premium be increased from 200 per student in receipt of DSA to 220 per eligible student from 2007/08. that the Council not support the amendment of the current funding model cells in respect of franchised out full-time. 13. APRIL 2005 TO MARCH 2006 MONITORING REPORT HEFCW FINANCIAL YEAR BUDGET (HEFCW/06/45) Council received and noted the Fourth Quarter progress report against the overall Financial Year budget Resolved: that the Fourth Quarter progress report against the overall Financial Year budget be noted. 14. HEFCW FINANCIAL YEAR RUNNING COST BUDGET (HEFCW/06/46) Council received and noted that the running cost budget had been revised following the outcome of the pay negotiations with the Assembly. Resolved to approve the revised financial year running cost budget for ANY OTHER BUSINESS 8

9 15.1 Minutes of the Strategic Development Fund Panel meeting held 5 th June 2006 (HEFCW/06/59) tabled Council received and considered the Minutes of the Strategic Development Fund Panel meeting held 5 th June The following paragraphs are exempt from disclosure under sections 36 (contains information potentially prejudicial to the conduct of public affairs) and 43 (contains information which is commercially sensitive) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 i to v 16. DATE OF NEXT MEETING The date of the next meeting was noted as 5 th September 2006 to be held at the University of Wales, Lampeter. 17. CORPORATE RISK REGISTER (HEFCW/06/47) 17.1 Council received and considered the most recent update of the Corporate Risk Register and the revised Risk Management Policy and Guidelines that the resolved pay dispute (R18) had decreased the risk rating currently entered on the register Audit and Risk Committee s points that failure to meet Reaching Higher targets on increasing external research income (R4) could have a greater risk than that on the Register, with regard to the negative effect on Council reputation, staff recruitment and loss of international competitiveness. The rating would therefore be revised Audit and Risk Committee s points that consequences of the funding gap between England and Wales (R8) were greater than those stated in the Register. The wording would therefore be revisited. Resolved: i) to approve the latest updates to the corporate risk register. i iv) to reduce the pay settlement risk entry (R18). to increase the Reaching Higher external research income targets risk entry (R4); and to approve the revised Risk Management Policy and Guidelines. 18. UNCONFIRMED NOTES OF THE THIRD MISSION COMMITTEE MEETING, 15 th JUNE 2006 (HEFCW/06/48) 9

10 Council received and noted the unconfirmed minutes of the Third Mission Committee meeting held 15 th June 2006, in particular: i) the proposed funding arrangements for the next three-year Fund Cycle 2007/08 to 2009/10. the need to revisit the Third Mission Committee membership and standing orders following the recent ASPB/Assembly mergers. Resolved: to approve authority to the Chair of the Third Mission Committee and Chief Executive to proceed with a consultation exercise in September 2006 on Third Mission funding arrangements for 2007/08 to 2009/ MINUTES OF THE LEARNING AND TEACHING COMMITTEE MEETING, 28 th APRIL 2006 (HEFCW/06/49) Council received and noted the unconfirmed minutes of the Learning and Teaching Committee meeting held 28 th April Resolved: Subject to approval by the Committee at its next meeting on 21 st July 2006, to approve the unconfirmed minutes of the 28 th April meeting. 20. WELSH MAINSTREAMING STRATEGY (HEFCW/06/50) 20.1 Council received the Council's Welsh Language Mainstreaming Strategy for which had been submitted to the Welsh Assembly Government, together with the Assembly s response 20.2 Council noted the exercise of delegated authority by the Chief Executive in approving and submitting the Welsh Language Mainstreaming Strategy to the Assembly. 21. HR COMMITTEE; DISCHARGE OF DUTIES REPORT (HEFCW/06/51) Council received and noted a Report of the work of the Human Resources Committee during the period October 2003 to March 2006 and the minutes of the HR Committee meeting held 16 th March CORPORATE STRATEGY TO 2010 AND CORPORATE AND OPERATIONAL PLAN INCLUDING FIRST QUARTER REPORT (HEFCW/06/52) 22.1 Council received an update on its Corporate Strategy to 2010 and Corporate & Operational Plan to i) the Assembly s formal approval of its Corporate Strategy to 2010 and Corporate and Operational Plan to and 10

11 progress to date against actions for the first quarter of the planning period CAPITAL FUNDING FOR LEARNING AND TEACHING AND IT INFRASTRUCTURE AND (HEFCW/06/53) Council received and noted the allocations and the institutional planned use of the Capital Fund for Learning and Teaching and IT infrastructure for and OUTCOMES OF STUDY ON FUTURE REQUIREMENTS FOR CAPITAL FUNDING (HEFCW/06/54) 24.1 Council received the outcome of the UK-wide study on future requirements for capital funding to be published in full in July Council noted that proposals for arrangements for capital funding from would be presented to a future meeting of Council. 25. SOURCES OF RESEARCH INCOME OF HEIs IN WALES (HEFCW/06/55) 25.1 Council received the annual report detailing the breakdown of research income for HEIs in Wales for 2004/05 against comparative data dating back from 2000/ WELSH MEDIUM TEACHING DEVELOPMENT CENTRE (HEFCW/06/56) Council received and noted the report on the work of the Welsh Medium Teaching Development Centre which include the Centre s business plan to SUBJECTS OF BROADER IMPORTANCE IN A WELSH CONTEXT (HEFCW/06/57) 27.1 Council received an update on the current position with regard to Subjects of Broader Importance to Wales Council noted the final consultation report on the subjects and the advice presented to the Minister. 28. ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL HEALTH: SECTOR AND INSTITUTIONS (HEFCW/06/58) MEMBERS ONLY 28.1 Council received and considered the analysis of the financial health of HE sector and individual institutions as indicated by the mid-year financial returns. 11

12 28.2 a smaller operating and historic cost surplus an increase in staff costs, equal to 0.4% of the total income spent on staff costs a weakening net liquidity position. 12