University Executive Board update

Pictured: top left to right: Sarah Pook, Professor Iain Cameron, Professor Paul Whittaker, Janice Donaldson, Professor Bashir M Al-Hashimi, Professor Rachel Mills, Professor William Powrie, Professor Mandy Fader, Professor Anne Curry. Seated left to right: Professor Mark Spearing, Professor Alex Neill, Professor Sir Christopher Snowden, Ian Dunn, Professor Colin Grant.  Professor Jane Falkingham is also a member of the UEB but was unavailable on the day this picture was taken.

We continue our monthly look at the work of the leadership team and the discussions of the University Executive Board (UEB)

Management accounts

Since the last Southampton Connects edition, there have been two formal meetings of UEB: in December and January. At both of these meetings, the October and November management accounts were presented. These detail regular updates of income and expenditure against budget so that UEB can monitor the University’s overall financial performance. To date, expenditure and income are on course to meet the University budget.

Health and safety

Health and safety updates at the meetings in December and January consisted of regular incident updates. In addition, a hazard mapping system was presented. Maps will be developed for each building to provide a geographical illustration of the high-risk areas across the institution. The maps will also help to assess access procedures to such areas and provide valuable information to the emergency services should support be needed.

The new Health and Safety SharePoint site is now finished and contains lots of useful information, including a number of policies that have been approved by UEB as well as information on stress management and scientific safety.  This site will now be regularly updated.

Student number plans

Student number plans were approved by UEB at its meeting on 19 December.  The plans align with the 10-Year Plan in terms of student numbers and the strategy to increase entry tariff requirements. They also take into account the capacity milestones from the Estates strategy.

Revised International Strategy

At the meeting in December, UEB reviewed the agenda for the Council meeting on 18 January 2017. The revised International Strategy was approved for presentation to Council and subsequently Council gave their full endorsement to now commence embedding the International Strategy in the business planning process.

Research Integrity Statement

As a signatory to the Concordat to Support Research Integrity, the University is required to publish a Research Integrity Statement every year. The statement provides a summary of actions and activities that have been undertaken to foster a culture and understanding of research integrity across the University. It also provides assurances that the University has fair, robust and transparent processes in place for dealing with allegations of research misconduct, and presents a high-level summary of investigations of research misconduct that have been undertaken by the University. The proposed draft of the Annual Research Integrity Statement was presented to UEB at the January meeting and approved for publication.

Conflicts of Interest Policy

In addition, the UEB endorsed a draft of the Conflicts of Interest Policy which outlines the responsibilities of individuals on reporting and managing conflicts of interest. The University’s current policy has been in place since 2006­­­.

The Code of Conduct for Researchers was also endorsed. This is the overarching framework and guidance document enabling researchers to understand their responsibilities and to ensure that all research is conducted to the highest standards and in accordance with legal, ethical and safety requirements.

Business planning process

In January, the UEB noted the business planning process for the coming year, including the timeframe. Each year the business planning process aims to pull together a plan for the University, which covers both financial and non-financial objectives and ambitions. This is then approved by Council in its July meeting. The business plan, which includes financial budgets, provides faculties and professional service areas with the tools to make effective decisions and ensures the University operates in a financially sustainable way.

What is the UEB?

The University Executive Board, or UEB, sets the strategic direction and has oversight of how the University is managed. It brings together the President and Vice-Chancellor, Chief Operating Officer, Deans, Vice-Presidents and the Executive Directors of People and Strategy, and Finance and Planning.

The Board meets formally once a month for briefings, updates and decision-making. It also meets informally every week to address emerging topics and formulate policy on a wide range of subjects, which are taken forward to the formal monthly meetings for approval.