Board Strategy Day 2024 and Board Meeting Review

29 May 2024

Every year the Board has the opportunity to come together with the executive team and spend a day considering a range of strategically important topics and challenges, followed by a scheduled Board Meeting.

A range of expert speakers set sector context

At this year’s Board Strategy event, on 22 May, board members received external presentations on differing aspects of the higher education landscape from Dr Vivienne Stern, Chief Executive of Universities UK, Lord Jo Johnson, former Universities Minister, and Lord Jim O’Neill, former Chief Economist at Goldman Sachs and former Chief Commercial Secretary to the Treasury.  

Our financial strength, student recruitment and mental health support in challenging times

The Board noted the concerns raised by the recent Office for Students report that indicated the major financial problems facing many universities. While we remain in a relatively strong position, it is absolutely clear that there is no room for complacency because we are not able to invest as much as we need to do to support our medium-term plans.

There were also ‘deep dives’ into the complexities of student recruitment, both UK and international, and into support for student mental health, which were very well received.

In their paper for the Board meeting, SU members highlighted student financial concerns and the importance of good, affordable food to student mental health and wellbeing, and in that context the potential for further joint University/SU promotion of the 20% food on campus student discount.

Board Approvals

The Board approved the full business case for the Evolve Programme which aims to provide the University with stable and highly available IT services that enable our current and future needs.

It also approved the business case for remaining works to the Chemistry Building, and was updated on the Residences Redevelopment Programme, with formal Board approval to be sought over the summer.

The Board approved role specifications for three current and imminent vacancies for lay members and the reappointment of some existing members and endorsed the approach to the development of the Access and Participation Plan (2025-26 to 2028-29) which will be submitted to the OfS shortly. It also noted the latest OfS consultation on freedom of speech and the work in train to obtain Board approval of Policy and revised Code of Practice at the next meeting.  

Board update on recent protest

Having received correspondence ahead of the meeting from some staff and students protesting about the University’s position in relation to conflict in Israel and Gaza, the Board wanted to set aside time to listen to the issues.

The Senior Leadership Team explained the University’s position and its response on a range of demands made by protesters. These had been previously debated in our recent Senate meeting (which also heard from student protestors), in a formal response to an Open Letter and in a variety of other meetings and correspondence.  The Board heard the concerns of the SU board members on behalf of student protestors and the large number and broad range of students who care very much about the conflict and took questions from lay and staff board members.

The Board discussed the current situation at length. In its discussions, the Board reflected on the University’s current position as articulated at the Senate meeting in April and its response to a recent Open Letter from protestors.

These reflections included:

• The University’s legal and charitable obligations
• The centrality of academic freedom and freedom of speech
• The importance of accepting views that may be diametrically opposed provided that they are not illegal or disrespectful of others: this included protecting the right to lawful, peaceful and respectful protest and taking action when protest was not peaceful or respectful and when normal activities were significantly disrupted.
• The implications of the University stepping away from a neutral role, noting and completely respecting the rights of individuals to take personal actions.
•  Awareness that all university alliances and research collaborations were compliant with applicable national and international statutory and regulatory requirements.

The Board wanted to put on record that it recognised the tragedy that has affected so many innocent people in Israel and Gaza. Many people across our community and the wider education sector have been profoundly affected by the loss of life and violence and every Board member shared the distress and concern that this terrible situation has caused. The Board also recognised the existence of a multiplicity of views and that this was a matter on which some would continue to disagree passionately.

After full consideration, the Board agreed to endorse the University’s position as set out on in the Open Letter response. The Board stressed the importance of continuing to discuss all matters through our Students’ Union officers, as the representative body of all our students and of listening carefully to concerns. The Board also supported the idea of enabling our community to come together in a regular, programmed and accessible way to discuss and debate controversial topics in a constructive and respectful manner. This builds on the model of recent open meetings over the last few months on freedom of speech/ProLife issues, university finances and innovative work on animal research. It was also keen for the University to re-emphasise the direct support it is providing via its leading humanitarian conflict student scholarship programme.

The Board also heard an overview of the established plans to mitigate the potential impact of protests on staff and students noting that this was both a critical exam period and the continued importance of maintaining security and safety on campus for all in our community.