Review of Life Sciences and cognate disciplines

16 Jul 2015

Implementation of recommendations following the first meeting of the Review of Life Sciences and Cognate Disciplines Implementation Oversight Group, which took place earlier this week

This group, led by the President and Vice-Chancellor Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell, will ensure the effective and timely implementation of the recommendations of the Review of Life Sciences and Cognate Disciplines.

The key recommendation of this Review, which has received strong backing from Senate and approval from the Board of Governors, is that the University should be reconstituted so that all academic activity is organised around three Faculties, moving different component parts of the current Faculty of Life Sciences into two other Faculties, the Faculty of Medical, Biological and Human Sciences and the Faculty of Science and Engineering (working titles). You can find the full report of the Review Group at: Life Sciences and Cognate Disciplines Review

The Implementation Oversight Group endorsed the comments from both Senate and the Board of Governors, notably the importance of maintaining the great strength of teaching in Life Sciences which would be facilitated by the aim to keep students together in a single Faculty as much as possible; the continued prominence of biological sciences (a title which has been chosen since Life Sciences now has implications beyond biology) within the University; and that disruption to staff and students during the implementation period should be minimised.

Key documents setting out principles and processes

The Implementation Oversight Group has agreed the key Implementation Principles and Terms of Reference. Two implementation groups have been established to lead the process of forming the new structures, ensuring that there is appropriate involvement of staff in this process.

Until the new structures are fully operational, an interim Faculty of Life Sciences management team will manage the ongoing business of the Faculty.

Details can be found at:

Timescales

The transition will start on 1 August 2015 to limit the period of uncertainty for staff. The Implementation Oversight Group aims to put together draft structures for consultation in the next few weeks.

Any proposed changes to academic structures and name changes will be considered by Senate in November 2015 and subsequently go to the Board of Governors for approval with the new structures coming fully into operation by 1 August 2016.

Senior appointments

A process has been carried out to identify both the Vice-President and Dean and Director of Faculty Operations for the new Faculty of Medical, Biological and Human Sciences (working title).

Professor Ian Greer has been appointed as Vice-President and Dean (Designate) of the Faculty of Medical, Biological and Human Sciences (working title) and will take up his position on 1 August 2016.

Dr Simon Merrywest has been appointed Director of Faculty Operations (Designate) for the Faculty of Medical, Biological and Human Sciences (working title) and will take up his new appointment on 1 August 2016.

Professor Martin Humphries will continue in his role as Vice-President and Dean for the Faculty of Life Sciences until the Faculty of Medical, Biological and Human Sciences (working title) comes into being on 1 August 2016.

Kay Day, currently Director of Faculty Operations in the Faculty of Medical and Human Sciences, will continue in this role until August 2016 when she will retire from the University.

The roles of Vice-President and Dean and Director of Faculty Operations in the Faculty of Science and Engineering (working title) will remain unchanged.