EXECUTIVE BOARD

OPEN AGENDA

Monday 09 January 2017 (Room 115)

EB 16/17 19 A Minutes To approve: minutes of the meeting held on 19 December 2016

[Attached]

EB 16/17 19 B Action Points

[Oral Updates]

EB 16/17 19 C Matters Arising/Matters for Report

[Oral Updates]

EB 16/17 19 D Agendas for Board of Trustee Standing Committees To note: A paper from the Secretary

[Attached]

EB 16/17 19 E HE Horizon scan To note

[Attached]

1

These minutes are for information only. Any corrections to the minutes will be recorded in the minutes of the subsequent meeting of the committee.

SOAS, University of London

Executive Board

Monday 19th December 2016

OPEN MINUTES Members: Baroness Valerie Amos

Mr Graeme Appleby Professor Richard Black Professor Chris Bramall Professor Lutz Marten Mr Paul Doyle Dr Deborah Johnston Ms Paula Sanderson Professor Gurharpal Singh

In attendance: Anne Marie O’Mullane (For minutes) EB 16/17 18 A. Minutes

The minutes of the meeting on 5th December were approved. EB 16/17 18 B. Action Points

UK Recruitment, EB 16/17 6 D

EB noted an update from the Registrar on progress with several strands of work in

connection with recruitment. These included the use of scholarships and bursaries to assist

with converting offers to firm acceptances. Work was being undertaken in relation to tariff

setting. The most important work strand being undertaken was delivering better reporting.

MOOCs and Summer School, EB 16/17 10 D

EB noted that a paper would be brought to EB in January with a fuller set of comments.

Chinese-English prep School, EB 16/17 11 E

EB noted that the Dean of Languages & Cultures was meeting with the SCI Director this

week. EB will receive a further update in January.

Student recruitment, EB 16/17 15 D

Plan of key dates for EB to consider and make decisions

2

EB noted work being undertaken to ensure that EB was aware of the key dates in the

calendar where the School could influence proposals being made which would have an

impact on the HE Sector. EB will receive a further update in January.

Discussion on international recruitment with UUK and British Council

Joseph Taylor, UUK, will be meeting, in January, with the International Strategy Working

Group. All EB members are welcome to attend the meeting on 5th January 2017.

Revise plan of work to include key decisions, academic involvement and other views

This matter was discussed under the action “Plan of key dates for EB to consider and make

decisions”.

Apprenticeships: Background paper on scheme, EB 16/17 6 D

EB noted that an update would be provided in January. The matter of whether a proposal

should be submitted for recruitment in 2017/18 or the year after was discussed. EB

members expressed a preference for a proposal for a 2018/19 recruitment intake. This

would leave sufficient time to plan and implement in the most effective manner.

REF consultation: Report back on implications of linking HESA return to TEF, EB 16/17 6 C

EB agreed an extension to the due date for the action REF consultation, EB 16/17 6 C

(action holder: Richard Black). It was noted that this was a time sensitive matter as it had

implications for the TEF. It was agreed that the Pro-Director (Research and Enterprise)

would convene a meeting with Professor Craven, Simon Gwynne and the Pro-Director

(Learning and Teaching) in the New Year to discuss the options for reporting.

EB 16/17 18 D. Response to Student Loan Submission

EB requested a number of edits to the Student Loan Submission:

Question 7: In relation to the statement on living expenses, context was needed and an

explanation of the difficulty some postgraduate students experienced.

Question 10: the word “significantly” be inserted before the word “grow”.

Question 11: Amend “no margin for problems”. The reference to an eight year part-time

degree to be changed to a seven year part-time degree.

During discussion it was stated that the response had been submitted and the consultation

had now closed. EB agreed that messages from the discussion should still be fed into the

process by the Registrar.

EB 16/17 18 E. Plan of Key Dates

This item was discussed under Student recruitment, EB 16/17 15 D.

3

EB 16/17 18 F. HE Horizon Scan

EB noted the latest version of the Horizon Scan.

REF Consultation

EB noted the deadline for the response was 12pm on Friday 17 March 2017. The REF

Steering Group would draft the response consultation for approval by EB prior to submission.

Industrial Strategy

It was agreed that the Pro-Director, Research & Enterprise would submit a response to the

research project on what the Government should support in its industrial strategy. The

deadline for submission was 4th January 2017.

Guardian’s University Awards 2017

EB agreed that Director of Estates should liaise with the former Project Manager of the

Senate House North Block project on a submission to the Guardian’s University Awards for

the Paul Webley Wing.

A submission should also be made to celebrate the strides made by the Research &

Enterprise Office.

Applications were scheduled to close on 3rd February 2017.

Overview of the teaching qualifications held by academic staff in HEFCE-funded higher

education institutions

EB discussed the data included in the overview of the teaching qualifications held by

academic staff in HEFCE-funded the survey. EB noted that this information could be

included in the TEF in the future. EB agreed that the Registrar would draft an action plan for

collection of this data which would be submitted to a future meeting of EB.

National Collaborative Outreach Programme

EB asked for an explanation why SOAS did not apply for funding under the National

Collaborative Outreach Programme (action owner, Registrar).

UUK – new programme to help improve the mental health and wellbeing of students and

staff in higher education

EB noted the new programme to help improve the mental health and wellbeing of students

and staff in higher education. EB agreed that the Registrar should disseminate the

information to relevant staff.

4

Definition of anti-Semitism

EB agreed that the School needed to look at the anti-Semitism definition proposed by the

House of Commons, Home Affairs Committee and adopted by the Government and its

potential impact on the School and Student Union events and activities.

Online and mobile technologies

EB noted the opportunities that may be available in relation to language learning apps.

There may be an opportunity to work with companies to support increasing their expansion

into non-European languages. EB noted that the Dean for the Faculty of Languages &

Cultures was following up on this matter. EB agreed it should be updated on progress with

this matter.

5

EXECUTIVE BOARD: Action Points

Minute Item Action 2016/17 Deadline for

report to EB

By

EB 16/17 6 D UK recruitment Plan for pilot of expansion in UK recruitment

16/1/17 PS

EB 16/17 9 D EDI Action plan Develop dashboard for reporting to EB and BoT

23/1/17 GA / CI

EB 16/17 10 D Moocs and summer school

Paper to EB on next steps 16/1/17 DJ

EB 16/17 13 E Student Protection Plan

Draft Plan for approval 23/1/17 DJ

EB 16/17 15 D Student recruitment

Plan of key dates for EB to consider and make decisions

16/1/17 PS

EB 16/17 15 D Student recruitment

Revise plan of work to include key decisions, academic involvement and other views

16/1/17 DJ

EB 16/17 15 E SU Priorities Report to EB on progress 23/1/17 PS / CI

EB 16/17 15 F Programme approval

New programme approval process to be discussed at ADC

30/1/17 DJ

EB 16/17 15 G Horizon Scan First aid training in Welcome Week

27/3/17 CI

EB 16/17 6 C REF consultation Report back on implications of linking HESA return to TEF

16/1/16 RB

EB 16/17 18 B REF consultation:

Report back on implications of linking HESA return to TEF

Matt Craven, Simon Wynn, Deborah Johnston and Richard Black to meet in the New Year to discuss to discuss.

16/1/16 RB

EB 16/17 6 D Apprenticeships Detailed paper on School proposals

16/1/16 PS

6

EB 16/17 15 D

Student

Recruitment:

Discussion on

international

recruitment with

UUK and British

Council

Update EB members with meeting details for International Strategy Working Group’s January Meeting

5/1/17 PS

EB 16/17 18 B Chinese-English prep school

Update on meeting with SCI Director

9/1/17 LM

EB 16/17 18 F

HE Horizon Scan REF Consultation:

Response to be approved

by EB

6/3/17 RB

EB 16/17 18 F

HE Horizon Scan Industrial Strategy: Respond to Industrial Strategy Consultation

4/1/17 RB

EB 16/17 18 F

HE Horizon Scan Guardian’s University Awards 2017: Submission for PWW

23/1/17 PS

EB 16/17 18 F

HE Horizon Scan Guardian’s University Awards 2017: Submission for REO

23/1/17 RB

EB 16/17 18 F

HE Horizon Scan Action plan for collecting data on teaching qualifications held by academic staff

6/2/2017

PS

EB 16/17 18 F

HE Horizon Scan Explore why SOAS did not apply for funding under the National Collaborative Outreach Programme

9/1/17 PS

EB 16/17 18 F

HE Horizon Scan Registrar to disseminate

information on UUK–

programme to help

improve the mental health

and wellbeing of students

and staff in higher

education to relevant staff

09/1/17 PS

EB 16/17 18 F

HE Horizon Scan Consider the anti-Semitism

definition and its impact

from a School perspective.

30/1/17

PS

7

EB 16/17 18 F

HE Horizon Scan Online and mobile

technologies: Dean for the

Faculty of Languages &

Cultures to explore offering

support to companies

wishing to expand into non-

European languages.

20/1/17 LM

EXECUTIVE BOARD 09.01.2017 EB 16/17 19 D

Agendas for Board of Trustee Standing Committees

EB is asked to note the attached agendas.

Executive Summary EB is asked to note the agendas for upcoming Board of Trustee Standing Committees EB sponsoring Member: Chris Ince

Recommendations To note the following Agendas:

Academic Board – 3 February 2017

Audit Committee – 9 February 2017

Governance & Nominations Committee – 31 January 2017

Honorary Degrees & Fellowships Committee – 31 January 2017

Financial Impact N/A

Risks N/A

Equality implications N/A

ACADEMIC BOARD

OPEN AGENDA

Wednesday 1 February at 2.00pm

(Conference Suite, Paul Webley Wing)

AB 2016/17 3 A Minutes

To approve: minutes of the meeting held on 12th December 2016

[Paper Attached]

AB 2016/17 3 B Action Points

AB 2016/17 3 C Matters Arising/Matters for Report

AB 2016/17 3 D Directors Report

To note

[Paper Attached]

AB 2016/17 3 E Academic Board engagement with the Board of Trustees

To discuss

[No paper]

AB 2016/17 3 F Sub-Committees

To receive: termly reports from

(i) Research & Enterprise Committee

[Paper Attached]

[Appendix i]

AB 2016/17 3 G Update on Academic Restructuring

For consideration: Update from the Pro-Director, Research & Enterprise

[Paper Attached]

AB 2016/17 3 H Senate Motions from the meeting on 19 October and 10 November 2016

To note

[Paper Attached]

AB 2016/17 3 I Senate Terms of Reference [Re quoracy]

To approve

[Paper Attached]

AB 2016/17 3 J Committee Membership [Professor Charney’s membership of RPC as BoT and AB Rep]

To approve

[Paper Attached]

AB 2016/17 3 K *Board of Trustee Minutes

To note: Board of Trustee Open minutes held on 11 October 2016

[Paper Attached]

AUDIT COMMITTEE

OPEN AGENDA

Thursday 9 February 2017 (Room 115)

AC 16/17 3 A Minutes To approve: minutes of the meeting held on 06 October 2016

[Paper Attached]

AC 16/17 3 B Action Points

[Oral Updates]

AC 16/17 3 C Matters Arising/Matters for Report

[Paper Attached]

AC 16/17 3 D Risk Register

To consider: A paper from the Secretary

[Paper Attached]

AC 16/17 3 E Internal Audit Progress Report & Recommendation Tracker

To consider: A paper from the Internal Auditors

[Paper Attached]

AC 16/17 3 F Internal Audit Immigration Controls: Information on Reviewers

To consider: A paper from the Internal Auditors

[Paper Attached]

AC 16/17 3 G Prevent: Risk Analysis To consider: A paper from the Secretary

[Paper Attached]

AC 16/17 3 H Cyber Security [Contact Martin Whiteside?] For consideration

[Paper Attached]

AC 16/17 3 I Higher Education Students Early Statistics Survey 2015-16 For consideration

[Paper Attached]

GOVERNANCE & NOMINATIONS COMMITTEE

OPEN AGENDA

Tuesday 31 Jan 2017 (Room 115)

GNC 16/17 2 A Minutes To approve: minutes of the meeting held on 21 October 2016

[Attached]

GNC 16/17 2 B Action Points [Oral Updates]

GNC 16/17 2 C Matters Arising/Matters for Report

[Oral Updates]

GNC 16/17 2 D Lay Membership To note: lay membership of committees a) by individual b) by committee

[Attached]

GNC 16/17 2 E Lay Vacancies To consider: Current lay vacancies and approve nominations

[Attached]

GNC 16/17 2 F Board Governance Review To consider: the Board Governance Review Plan and to approve an additional meeting

[Attached]

GNC 16/17 2 G Engagement Matrix To consider: Lay members’ Engagement Matrix

[Attached]

GNC 16/17 2 H Trustee Profiles To note: Trustees’ skill profiles and analysis

[Attached]

GNC 16/17 2 I Attendance at meetings in 2015/16 To consider: Attendance of lay members

[Attached]

HONORARY DEGREES & FELLOWSHIPS COMMITTEE

OPEN AGENDA

Tuesday 31st January 2017 (Room 115)

HDF 16/17 2 A Minutes To approve: minutes of the meeting held on 21 October 2016

[Attached]

HDF 16/17 2 B Action Points

[Oral Updates]

HDF 16/17 2 C Matters Arising/Matters for Report

[Oral Updates]

HDF 16/17 2 D Previous Awards To note: previous awards (i) Honorary Degrees (ii) Honorary Fellowships

[Paper Attached]

HDF 16/17 2 E Criteria for Awards To note: the current criteria for awards

[Paper Attached]

HDF 16/17 2 F Guidelines for the Committee To note: guidelines for use by the Committee

[Paper Attached]

HDF 16/17 2 G Consideration of a separate honorary degree ceremony To discuss

[Paper Attached]

HDF 16/17 2 H Nominations for Honorary Degrees [none have been received- deadline for nominations 13 January 2017] To consider: nominations for Honorary Degrees

[Paper Attached]

Executive Board 09.01.2016 EB 16/17 19 E

1 Emma Jessup

HE DIGEST

Wednesday 14th December 2016 – Wednesday 4th January 2017

EB is asked to receive the Horizon scan paper attached and note the recommended actions

RECOMMENDED ACTIONS AND CONSULTATIONS

The government is seeking consultation on draft strategic guidance from the Government to

the Institute for Apprenticeships (IoA) for 2017-18. The government has set out a

programme of reform to raise the quality and quantity of apprenticeships. The IoA will be

established as an independent body to act as guarantor to the integrity of the

apprenticeships system, with a mandate to assure quality and provide advice on future

funding for apprenticeships training. Consultation closes 31st January 2017.

http://tinyurl.com/j75zfbs

HEFCE has issued a call for proposals for projects to identify and support good practice to improve and enhance student safeguarding on campus. Proposals to receive funding of up to £50,000 are invited. The deadline for returning completed business cases is noon on Thursday 2 February 2017. http://tinyurl.com/haweh49

Executive Board 09.01.2016 EB 16/17 19 E

2 Emma Jessup

TO NOTE: HE ACTION GROUPS, POLICY MAKERS AND EMPLOYER BRIEFINGS

HEFCE

A survey of the intentions of nearly 140,000 graduates finds few differences between what students from different backgrounds plan to do after graduation, but does find differences in how likely they are to fulfil their ambitions. The introduction of postgraduate loans might help to close the gap. (15th December 2016) http://tinyurl.com/zs5r8qn HEFCE has published the outcomes of its consultation on arrangements for supporting widening access and successful student outcomes, including progression to taught postgraduate study. (20th December 2016) http://tinyurl.com/zd49qq7 The government has published a response to Dame Ann Dowling‟s review of business-university collaborations, reaffirming its long-term commitment to knowledge exchange. (21st December 2016) http://tinyurl.com/hvwuano GOV.UK

The Government has published an assessment of the effect that changes made to HE

student finance will have on groups with relevant protected characteristics. The changes

include an increase in tuition fees for providers offering high-quality teaching, proportionate

increases in tuition fee loans, increases in living costs support, Department of Health

removal of NHS bursaries and replacement with loans, among other changes. (15th

December 2016) http://tinyurl.com/hychtxr

The government has published its findings from the call for evidence to assess how

switching universities can be made easier, and how more accelerated degrees could be

created. (20th December 2016) http://tinyurl.com/johb5wn

UCEA

Three roundtable discussions between trade unions and employers‟ representatives have

resulted in a set of proposals presented to HESA aimed at improving understanding

employment patterns in the HE workforce. HESA officers have assisted at the roundtable

discussions and have advised that three of the proposals will be included as part of HESA‟s

annual update consultation with a view to implementation in the 2017-18 HESA Staff

Record. All the proposals are subject to consultation with higher education providers and

members are encouraged to engage in HESA‟s consultation process in February to March of

2017. (16th December 2016)

HEPI New research by HEPI shows that league tables are based almost exclusively on research-related criteria and the data they use are unreliable. A new HEPI briefing argues that it is unwise and unreliable to give league tables so much weight. (15th December 2016) http://tinyurl.com/jm7vsm6

Executive Board 09.01.2016 EB 16/17 19 E

3 Emma Jessup

TO NOTE: UK HE IN THE NEWS

BREXIT 1. Before the Brexit vote, the number of European Union (EU) students accepted on

courses rose to 31,400, the highest on record, according to the latest figures released by UCAS. (15th December 2016) http://tinyurl.com/zxkp9la

HE BILL 1. The Government is facing a cross-party revolt over the controversial reforms to HE. The

Lords have warned the new Higher Education and Research Bill could allow private companies to run institutions as businesses, driving a „marketisation‟ of the sector. (1st January 2016) http://tinyurl.com/h7y79dh

OTHER NEWS 1. More than 40 fraudulent websites have been shut down in a major crackdown on the

sale of fake degrees. (3rd January 2016) http://tinyurl.com/jcnay6w 2. The move to increase university tuition fees in England to £9,250 has been launched -

without any announcement from the Department for Education. The changes to the fees, affecting more than 500,000 students beginning in the autumn, was put onto a government website. Opposition parties have called it "shabby" and "avoiding scrutiny". (22nd December 2016) http://tinyurl.com/zv4vzt4

3. The gap between rich and poor students being granted university places has reached a record high, latest UCAS figures show, prompting fresh concerns over the “shameful” lack of social mobility within education. (14th December 2016) http://tinyurl.com/jnn4s6x

4. Labour peer, Shami Chakrabarti, has been criticised for establishing a £500,000 bursary fund to help girls get into university despite it being boys who are lagging behind. (4th January 2016) http://tinyurl.com/jm9vw6g

5. SOAS is named by Baroness Deech, the first ever higher education adjudicator, as one of the UK‟s universities becoming a no-go zone for Jewish students because anti-Semitism is so rife. (23rd December 2016) http://tinyurl.com/hf5fw4f Meanwhile, the Guardian reports that the Union of Jewish Students dismisses this claim, but acknowledges the spate of anti-semitic incidents on campuses (23rd December 2016) http://tinyurl.com/glm4fbe

6. Bristol University is to lower entry grades for disadvantaged students in a bid to increase diversity and narrow the gulf between rich and poor students on campus, as reported by UCAS (15th December 2016) http://tinyurl.com/jxahnyy

TO NOTE: INTERNATIONAL HE IN THE NEWS

STUDENT RECRUITMENT

1. New data from UCAS reveals a 9% drop in the number of EU students applying for

admission to British universities this year, equating to a drop of 620 applicants for the

admissions cycle closing on 15th October 2016. (14th December 2016)

http://tinyurl.com/hw2yhld

2. A new report from the Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (RANEPA) finds that the number of foreign students enrolled in Russian universities has increased nearly three-fold over the past decade. From a base of 100,900 foreign students in 2004/05, total enrolment in Russian higher education reached 282,900 in 2014/15. (19th December 2016) http://tinyurl.com/zc2ydru

TNE

1. In a historical U-turn for Algerian higher education, for the first time since independence in 1962 the country has authorised the creation of private universities. There are reportedly already four applications for private institutions. (16th December 2016) http://tinyurl.com/hma2jyx

2. The Kenyan President and government have issued a slew of new directives and guidelines for universities for the coming year, as the authorities move to tighten the higher education regulatory regime. (16th December 2016) http://tinyurl.com/zxac57j

3. Algeria‟s first educational television channel, called Knowledge, will be launched next year as part of the country‟s efforts to improve the quality of university education through open and distance learning. (16th December 2016) http://tinyurl.com/gqgxqzy

4. A model system of around a dozen pilot universities across West, Central and East Africa, implementable within a decade with some 2,500 new academics and US$1 billion, is proposed to kick-start the transformation of African higher education. The institutions will be led by Africans in strong collaboration with major stakeholders and existing universities, and will be uncompromisingly excellent, independent and globally partnered. (16th December 2016) http://tinyurl.com/hnourth

5. Nine African countries have successfully established a sustainable National Research and Education Network promoting internet access to global educational resources and facilitating interaction at national and regional levels among universities and research institutions – boosting research productivity over the last decade. (16th December 2016) http://tinyurl.com/hgyo3wa

6. The African Virtual University has launched an open and distance e-learning centre at the University of Douala in Cameroon, the latest in a series of nearly 30 centres being established in 21 countries to provide students across Africa with greater access to quality higher education. (16th December 2016) http://tinyurl.com/zdptr9e

7. The first phase of the new Université Amadou Mahtar Mbow in Dakar, Senegal, which is aimed at easing congestion in the Senegalese capital‟s other existing public institution, is due for completion in October 2017, according to the Ministry of Higher Education and Research. (16th December 2016) http://tinyurl.com/hmal53p

8. The Zambian Open University expects to increase its student intake twofold in 2017 after it entered into a partnership with eLearnAfrica for its courses and degree programmes to be made available on the platform. (17th December 2016) http://tinyurl.com/hjx3nct

POLICY

1. The Indian government has “demonitised” two major banknotes, effectively meaning that

neither can now be used as legal tender.The immediate result has been to throw the

Indian economy into chaos. In a country that relies so much on cash for day-to-day

spending, and even for more significant expenditures such as study abroad, the sudden

removal of the two key banknotes has left most Indians scrambling to find the funds they

need for ongoing expenses. (20th December 2016) http://tinyurl.com/j93s426

2. The executive secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, an agency responsible for funding key projects in public universities, has revealed that more than half of Nigeria‟s companies are defaulting on paying a compulsory 2% education tax on profits. As a result, ongoing campus projects may have to be abandoned. (16th December 2016) http://tinyurl.com/zpnux8v

3. Turkish prosecutors ordered the arrest of 87 people linked to Istanbul University in an investigation targeting followers of United States-based cleric Fethullah Gülen, accused by Ankara of being behind July's attempted coup. (17th December 2016) http://tinyurl.com/hhv2h9a

4. Over 300 academics in Israel signed a petition last weekend saying they will ignore any recommendations in the new ethics code commissioned by its Education Minister. (17th December 2016) http://tinyurl.com/hoktpg4

5. One of Australia‟s top universities has achieved a world first, becoming the first higher education institution to issue a „climate bond‟ (17th December 2016) http://tinyurl.com/j65x8lc

6. Legislators in Hong Kong have criticised the government‟s higher education funding adviser for its lax regulation of non-local student numbers, saying places for mainland students could come at the expense of locals. (17th December 2016) http://tinyurl.com/hx5hevj