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• The University received a bronze in November 2022, with the next REC submission due in November 2027. Ahead of this, UEB noted we are preparing for a mid-way review in 2025. Work over the next 12 months will focus on three priority areas of inclusive recruitment, racial literacy, and ‘engage and understand’. Engagement activities are planned before the midway review, including focus groups of staff and students. This is part of our ongoing commitment to race equality and creating an anti-racist University.
• UEB received an overview of potential changes arising from the draft Employment Rights Bill, which has proposed 28 separate reforms. UEB noted details are currently light, as the Government will start consulting next year before implementing legislative changes.
• UEB received a quarterly report on progress against Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) that are used to gauge the success of our Strategy. The report provided an update on our performance as measured by the National Student Survey, Graduate Outcomes, and the Knowledge Exchange Framework. The report will be considered by our Council in November.
• The , approved by Council in July, articulates our ambition to be a University fit for the digital age. UEB endorsed an investment request for a five-year programme of activity that seeks to deliver a step change in our digital capabilities and approach. The investment request will now be considered by our Finance Committee and Council in November.
• UEB endorsed an updated Whistleblowing Policy. This has been revised to update the policy and clarify its use. Ratification of the policy will now be sought from the Joint-Joint Negotiating Committee (JJNC).
• UEB considered its management response to an internal audit of the processes and controls in place around Trusted Research at the University. One of the findings was that there is a lack of consistency in how line managers review and monitor conflicts of interests that are declared. To mitigate the risks this creates, existing mandatory training and associated guidance will be reviewed. UEB is asking all line mangers not only to have checked the potential conflicts of their reports, but to ensure there has been a discussion over mitigations.
• Finally, UEB noted that the staff engagement survey will launch on Friday 1 November.

• UEB received its quarterly update on the status of our Strategic Major Projects (SMPs), the IT portfolio and estates programme. The updates covered the period August to October 2024. Additionally, strategic updates were provided by each Faculty. This overview enabled UEB to explore the interdependencies between individual SMPs and Faculty plans.
• UEB reviewed the University’s risk register. It identifies the twenty most significant strategic risks for the University, and mitigations to manage these risks. The risk register is informed by horizon scanning to ensure the University can identify and respond to key risks associated with its operation and delivery of its strategy. UEB will be seeking analysis of the National Risk Register and local Risk Registers, via Local Resilience Forums, as part of this regular risk review.
• A summary of the annual assurance statements submitted by Faculties and Professional Services for the period 1 August 2023 to 31 July 2024 were considered. These statements are part of our risk management framework, providing assurance of compliance relating to key areas of risk. UEB noted that most Faculties and Professional Services could provide full assurance.
• UEB noted the progress being made to install a new automated car parking system. This is going live on 20 November and colleagues have been invited to apply for a new permit. We are working towards re-instigating parking permit charges in the new year. This follows a hiatus of four years since the start of the COVID pandemic. More information on car parking charges will follow later this Autumn.

UEB gave their very best wishes to colleagues who have been unwell following the Vice-Chancellor’s awards event held at St Mary’s Stadium. We are supporting these colleagues and working with several organisations, including the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), to gather more information. The HSA are now in direct contact with some of our staff and are working with others including the venue and their catering company as part of their investigation.

UEB noted the Government had launched the UK’s Industrial Strategy earlier in the week and introduced the Employment Rights Bill. An analysis of how these might impact the University and our staff is underway, with a full analysis of each to be considered at future UEB meetings.

UEB reviewed and endorsed the questions for the annual staff engagement survey, which will be conducted in early November. With one addition, all other questions will remain the same to enable benchmarking and trend analysis. The new question, over time, will allow us to assess the impact of introducing workload principles.

UEB thanked all staff and student ambassadors who took part in the open days held over the weekend. Many UEB members had attended the open days and commented on the welcoming and positive atmosphere on campus.

UEB received their regular update from the most recent meeting of the Planning and Resources Group. The agenda had included an admissions update and an analysis of research performance for the last quarter of 2023/24. UEB were pleased to note that research income for 2023/24 was up on the previous year and that there was an equally strong trajectory for research applications and awards.

UEB welcomed and endorsed the Researcher Development Concordat Annual Report. The Concordat focuses on improving researcher careers in the UK, covering environment, employment, and professional development. In this context, for the University, ‘researcher’ typically refers to people on research-only contracts. The Annual Report set out an overview of the work undertaken, with one of the highlights being the impact of the Faculty Concordat Champions Network. The Network is improving communications across Faculties and Schools, enabling good practices to be shared and implementations plans to be developed. UEB were encouraged by the range of work and progress made.

UEB were pleased to hear that the new term had started smoothly for our students, with significantly increased attendance at welcome events. Thanks were expressed to SUSU and all colleagues involved in organising the start of term.

UEB noted the Times Higher Education coverage of the latest Knowledge Exchange Framework (KEF) results, with its analysis that we are the strongest performing university. It is pleasing that our analysis of the KEF outcomes has independently been arrived at by a third party. UEB welcomed the news that the Science Park has been shortlisted for Science Park of the Year.

Universities UK (UUK) published ‘Opportunity, growth, and partnership: a blueprint for change from the UK’s Universities’ on 1 October. It calls for the Government to increase funding for teaching, to reverse the decline in quality related funding for research, to reinstate maintenance grants for students from the most disadvantaged backgrounds, and for maintenance loans to be increased in line with inflation. We will be undertaking a full analysis of the report, together with the Government’s response, to assess any potential impacts for our Strategy.

UEB welcomed and endorsed a Talent Plan which sets out targeted support for staff. Key elements of the Plan include developing a resourcing plan, employer branding, talent development, candidate attraction, new employee pipelines including apprenticeships to support our Civic agenda, career advice to staff, and targeted recruitment support for line managers, underpinned by a focus on improving diversity. Initial priorities for the 2024/25 academic year are succession planning and a review of the Super Recruiter programme to ensure our commitment in that area meets our Athena Swan and Race Equality Charter Ambitions.

UEB were presented with an overview of principles of the University Economic Model (UEM). This is an integrated model that tests financial sustainability, facilitates business planning through target setting, and provides us with financial forecasts.

Finally, UEB noted a paper on the Review of the Academic Calendar that will be considered by Senate later this month. It sets out options to address pressure points that impact staff and students’ wellbeing.

UEB met in person this week and heard about the updated for our students.Ìý This ensures our compliance with the Office for Students (OfS) Conditions of Registration and its new definition of sexual misconduct. This training is delivered as part of the Residential Life Programme, which is part of the induction for our new students. Alongside this, we have an ongoing engagement campaign targeting students not living in halls. UEB requested that this short training module is made available to Personal Academic Tutors and that everyone who is in contact with students is encouraged to know what is in it for their own awareness of the content.

UEB noted the quick resolution for the students affected by the recent gas leak at the Glen Eyre Halls of Residence, thanking colleagues for their smooth handling of the matter. These students have been temporarily moved whilst the gas supplier resolves the issue.

UEB were pleased to hear that the University had performed strongly in the fourth round of the UKRI Knowledge Exchange Framework (KEF).

UEB noted the request for nominations for the latest round of Royal Society Wolfson Fellowships and Visiting Fellowships.

UEB noted the University remained in the top 20 in The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025.

UEB were pleased to hear that many positive meetings have taken place regarding our India campus.

UEB considered and endorsed two policies: The Ethics Policy for Research, which has been revised to reflect changes in ethical considerations affecting research, including the use of artificial intelligence, and the Electronic Communication for the Purpose of Recruitment of Research Participants Policy. This is a new policy that clarifies the previous position that unsolicited emails should not be used for the recruitment of participants for research conducted at the University. Both policies will now go to our Senate for consideration.

UEB noted that consultation had opened on a Responsible Collaboration Statement. As part of the consultation, colleagues are invited to a townhall meeting with Professor Mark Spearing, Vice-President Research and Enterprise to discuss the statement on 1 October 2024.

UEB looked forward to the events planned to celebrate the formal opening of the new extension to the Jubilee Sport and Recreation Centre.

UEB were pleased to hear that the University had been formally awarded University of Sanctuary status and thanked all the team involved in this.

UEB noted the key findings from Lord Darzi’s independent investigation of the NHS in England. There are not thought to be immediate implications for the University.

UEB noted the extension to the deadline for the submission of appraisal forms.

UEB discussed and endorsed new Car Parking Regulations. Colleagues who use our car parks will soon be invited to apply for a new car parking permit.

UEB considered and supported a proposal on the decommissioning of the existing alumni email service. This service has a very low usage by our alumni and represents a security risk.

Finally, UEB noted a Benefits Realisations Audit Report, which will now be considered by our Audit and Risk Committee.

In August 2024, we witnessed distressing events both on our streets and across all media, with acts of racism and Islamophobia affecting many, including members of our own community and their families. These incidents have left people feeling shaken and uncertain about their place in the UK.Ìý In response, the University’s REACH Network organised an informal meeting on 5 September for members of the Network to share and discuss race and culture within our University within a safe and supportive space. As Chair of the University’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Committee (EDIC), Jane Falkingham was invited to join the meeting, providing an opportunity for members to discuss key issues and to raise any concerns or share positive experiences directly with UEB. As a result of the meeting, it has been agreed that the University’s EDI team will look to organise a series of Pulse surveys over the coming months.Ìý Members of the Palestine Solidarity Network attended the meeting and a further separate meeting with representatives of the PSN and Jane is being planned for after the next meeting of EDIC. Additional engagement sessions with the wider REACH Network will also be organised in the coming months to continue these vital conversations.

The national pay negotiation round for 2024-25 has now concluded, and UCEA have instructed the University and other participating Higher Education institutions to implement the pay outcome. Work is already underway to include the first stage of the two-stage uplift in September pay, backdated to 1 August 2024.

UEB were pleased to hear that University has been successful in the first round of UKRI’s new cross research council responsive mode (CRCRM) pilot scheme, with colleagues leading on two of the 36 projects funded under the call and partnering in a further two bids, reflecting our strengths in world class interdisciplinary research.

UEB received their regular update from the Planning and Resources Group meeting. Our undergraduate student registrations are above our target but are expected to fall by the census; however, we are expected to land in a good position in comparison to most of our competitors. Attention now turns to future number planning, with the matter to be considered through the normal processes and the long-term impact on Size and Shape considered in depth by UEB at our December strategic awayday. PRG also approved an extension of the Scholarship Programme for Excellence to encourage international PGT student applications.

UEB expressed thanks to colleagues who participated in our recent open days. Numbers attending had increased from the previous year. Our next open days are on 5 and 6 October.

UEB noted recent UK University rankings from the Daily Mail and the Guardian. UEB discussed that improvement in our National Student Survey (NSS) score should be a priority for all colleagues during the coming year, including the development of action plans as part of the forthcoming business planning cycle. This will have the biggest impact on our league table position. With the results of the Times league table expected soon, it was agreed that the league table working group will review the results across a range of tables and bring a summary paper to a future UEB.

UEB discussed and endorsed a new Research Collaboration Statement. The proposed statement provides guiding principles aligned to our values (research excellence, independence, integrity, care, respect and equity, and risk management) and signposts colleagues to key policies, procedures and support to identify, assess and manage actual or potential risks.Ìý This will be supplemented by an Addendum providing sector-specific considerations that will be reviewed annually by Research and Enterprise Executive Group (REEG). ÌýFurther University-wide consultation will now take place before the Research Collaboration statement goes forward for consideration by Senate.

UEB reviewed and endorsed a proposed annual Internal Audit Plan. The sample of audits have been selected based on the University Audit Universe; the sequence of recent audits and audit opinions; those required by statutory compliance; our risk register and the wider Higher Education risk environment.

UEB endorsed a variation to our Access and Participation Plan (APP) for 2024-2028. Our APP was approved in October 2023; however, the bursary provision was under review and changes would require a variation. The bursary review was undertaken by the Widening Participation and Social Mobility department in consultation with SUSU and key stakeholders such as Finance. It concluded that eligible household income bands should adjust for inflation ensuring more students were able to access financial support. The APP variation will now go to our Council for approval.

UEB received an update on the proposed new car parking regulations and heard that colleagues will soon start to receive more information on the work taking place in our car parks.

• UEB noted a successful visit from representatives of Hampshire County Council during the summer as part of our developing Civic Engagement work. Several co-created projects are now being developed. The County Council had reported on this visit positively to wider stakeholders.
• UEB noted the latest Confirmation and Clearing update. This highlighted a good outcome in a challenging environment. The University is on plan overall, slightly over on International undergraduate and slightly under on Home undergraduate. Planning for the next cycle is in progress.
• UEB welcomed the extremely positive media following the announcement that Southampton has become the first UK university to be granted a licence by the Indian government to create a comprehensive campus in the country. Work is now progressing at pace to appoint an Academic Provost for the Delhi Campus and to prepare for our first intake in 2025.
• UEB discussed updated parking regulations that will support the adoption of enforcement systems, i.e. Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR), which will be tested from 1 October, with the associated changes to the approval of permits across user groups being brought into operation from the start of 2025.
• UEB reflected on a series of Internal Audit reports which had been completed by KPMG. This provides independent assurance to Audit and Risk Committee of our governance, controls, and accounting processes and ensures that we are legally compliant. The report highlighted significant assurance with minor improvement opportunities across most areas as well as some aspects where partial assurance was provided with suggested process improvements. For all suggested improvements a clear action plan is in place.Ìý