University Executive Board minutes - 15 February 2022

On

Date:

15 February 2022

Present:

Professor K Lamberts (KL) (in the Chair), Professor D Petley (DNP), Professor G Valentine (GV), Professor J Derrick (JD), Professor S Fitzmaurice (SF), J Jones (JJ), Professor S Hartley (SH), Professor J Litster (JL), Professor C Newman (CN); Professor M Vincent (MV)

In attendance:

Dr T Strike (TS), I Wright (IW), T Wray (TW), R Rothman (RR) for item 3, D Bancroft (DB), L Carlile (LC) and L McCarthy (LM) for item 4

Apologies:

R Sykes (RS), Professor C Watkins (CW)

Secretary:

K Sullivan (KS)

  1. Minutes of UEB held on 12 October 2021

    • The minutes of the meeting held on 12 October 2021 were approved as an accurate record.

  2. Minutes of UEB held on 16 November 2021

    • The minutes of the meeting held on 16 November 2021 were approved as an accurate record.

  3. Sustainability Strategy

    • (RR in attendance for this item)
    • Further to updates received in February, June and October 2021, UEB received and noted an update the Sustainability Strategy. The report highlighted the areas of strategic importance and current areas of focus including progress with the Sustainability Action Plan, measuring scope 3 emissions and Education for Sustainable Development. It was highlighted that, following UEB’s decisions in relation to the Council Review of Estates Governance, future updates were generally expected to come through reports from the UEB Sustainability Steering Group.

    • During discussion, UEB noted the following key points:

      • Action Plan - Work was ongoing with all responsible individuals to progress actions promised in the Sustainability Action Plan; a full list of actions completed, progressed and added was included in the related paper.
      • Scope 3 emissions were a challenge across the HE sector. According to the University’s own calculations, over 85% of the University’s carbon footprint could be attributed to scope 3. However, confidence that scope 3 reporting for the University was sufficiently accurate was low. Scope 3 emissions included the wider emissions upon which an institution had less direct control, such as the embodied carbon in construction, commuting and travel related emissions, carbon embodied in food and in the wider supply chain. The University recognised this as an area where progress was needed. Work was underway to recruit a Carbon Data Manager to support the quantification and reduction of the University’s scope 3 carbon emissions and lead on better understanding estimates and improving data quality in this area.
      • Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) - The report highlighted the need to recognise that appropriate resourcing was required for ESD in order both to support the University’s ambitions for ESD and to improve on under performance. UEB considered a range of proposals for various roles to lead on and support this important area of work. While recognising this as an area of need and supporting the direction of travel, in terms of faculty leadership roles, it was important to allow time for the newly appointed FDOUs to start working with the FDs for L&T to take this forward. UEB did however recognise and endorse the need to appoint a central education lead.
    • Actions:
      • UEB approved the recruitment of a Central Education Lead for ESD for 2+2 years (with a review after two years). It was agreed to pause the recruitment of faculty leadership roles for ESD and to make this a key responsibility for the new FDOUs.

  4. Closed Minute and Paper

  5. Closed Minute and Paper

  6. Industrial Action: Report from Incident Management Team

    • UEB received and noted the report of the Incident Management Team (IMT) on key matters relating to the ongoing industrial action. UEB noted the current position regarding industrial action and the student occupation of several University owned buildings.

    • During discussion, UEB noted the following key points:

      • The University’s focus remained on ensuring that disruption to students was minimised and that the appropriate incident management protocols had been triggered to manage the situation.
      • were no known concerns about behaviour at pickets.
      • There was concern regarding the safety of students occupying Jessop West. This was due to banners preventing the closure of the windows which, if not closed, had the potential to become dislodged by high winds, which were forecast. The SU Chair had highlighted this risk to the occupiers and the University was in ongoing discussions with the SU Chair about the risks. Security staff were monitoring the ongoing situation and it was highlighted that they were adopting a supportive, non-confrontational approach.
      • UCU had steered members not to participate in Open Days on Saturdays. The Open Day taking place the following Wednesday would be discussed at the upcoming UEB HoDs meeting. One department was considering cancelling participation in the Open Day on 16 March, due to the number of staff taking action. This was a concern and was being followed up by the FVP.
      • Learning and teaching guidance had been updated and had been circulated to HoDs. All teaching had been successfully moved from occupied buildings.

  7. Round Table

    • IW provided an update on recent meetings about the National Pay Negotiations; more details would be provided once available.