Faculty of Engineering

FACULTY BOARD

ENG11-M1

Minutes of the meeting held 18 May 2011.

Members: Professor Steve Rothberg (Dean and Chair), Dr Adam Crawford, Dr Paul Cunningham, Dr Sandie Dann (ab), Ms Marijana Dragosavac, Dr James Flint, Dr Matthew Frost (ab), Professor Ralph Gottschalg, Mr Barry Haworth, Dr Rebecca Higginson, Dr Jane Horner, Mr Dulanjan Kaggodaarachchi (ab), Mrs Stephanie McKeating, Dr Danish Malik (ab), Dr Simon Martin, Dr Sue Morton, Dr Zoly Nagy, Dr Mohamed Osmani (ab), Professor David Parish, Professor Rob Parkin, Professor Shirley Pearce (ab), Dr Jon Petzing (ab), Dr Simon Pomeroy, Professor Chris Rielly (ab), Dr Carol Robinson, Professor Steve Rothberg, Dr Mike Smith (ab), Professor Richard Stobart (ab), Mr Tony Sutton (ab), Professor Yiannis Vardaxoglou, Dr Stephen Walsh (ab).

Observer: Wg Cmdr Jeremy Jackson (ab).

Apologies for absence: Sandie Dann, Matthew Frost, Jeremy Jackson, Danish Malik, Zoly Nagy, Mohamed Osmani, Jon Petzing, Chris Rielly, Mike Smith, Richard Stobart, Tony Sutton, Stephen Walsh.

In attendance: Marie Kennedy, Secretary

Also in attendance: Ms Yasmina Mallam-Hassam, Careers and Employability Centre (for item 4)

AGENDA

1. Minutes of the previous meeting (ENG10-M2)

Confirmed, subject to an amendment to record that Professor Jon Binner and Mr Barry Haworth were both present at the meeting.

2. Matters arising from the Minutes, not appearing elsewhere on this Agenda

.1 Recruitment 2010-11

Action completed.

.2 REF update

The Dean was pleased to note that Engineering staff had now deposited more publications on the Institutional Repository than staff from the other two Faculties. Citations were important to Loughborough’s position in international league tables, and the Repository was a useful way to improve their number. Members were asked to encourage their colleagues to ensure that all of their publications were placed on the Institutional Repository.

SECTION A – Items for Discussion/Report

3. Graduation destination data (ENG11-P1, tabled)

Ms Yasmina Mallam-Hassam from the Careers and Employability Centre was welcomed to the meeting to present the summary report. The full report would shortly be circulated to HoDs and published on the CEC webpage. Data were based on an excellent 80% response rate from recent undergraduates and postgraduates from the UK and EAA.

Although the report reflected the currently depressed employment market consequent on the economic downturn, 94% of the Faculty’s recent undergraduate students were in graduate-level employment or in combined work and study. The data showed the significant positive effect of placements: 81.4% of students with placement experience were in employment (compared to 63.5% of those without such experience), almost half of whom had returned to their placement employer as graduates. This high proportion reflected the way employers used placements as a means of recruitment.

The CEC was keen to work with academic departments to help improve students’ employability. All Faculty departments prepared their second year students for a possible placement year, but briefing students in their first year would make them even better prepared – not only for obtaining placement opportunities but also for seeking graduate employment.

To help students improve their ability to articulate and record their achievements, the CEC had instigated the Loughborough Employability Award. A high number, 66 out of 409 of students registered were from Engineering departments. To obtain the Award, students needed to accrue 100 points from a range of activities which included acting as course representatives and mentoring.

The CEC also tried to raise student awareness of the need to maximise their employability by means of a ‘road show’ which visited key locations on campus such as the Library, EHB and academics departments. The Centre also regularly surveyed students to ascertain why some used its services while others did not.

Also to help student employability, each year the Centre organised a range of employer events on campus. A recent event involved employers in the energy industry visiting to inform students of possible alternatives to careers in the Defence industry, which continued to experience cutbacks. Departmental staff were asked to suggest other areas which might broaden students’ perceptions of employment opportunities.

In order to help the University’s non-EEA international students, particularly taught postgraduates, the Centre hoped shortly to ascertain the extent to which they had been affected by the UK Borders Agency’s immigration changes. Significant changes to immigration rules instigated in April 2011 would affect both current students and graduates. For example, withdrawing the immigration visa to undertake a two-year period of post-study employment, (Tier 1 Post Study Work) in April 2012 was likely significantly to affect international students’ ability to obtain graduate employment in the UK. A window of opportunity remained for four months after students had completed their studies in which they could undertake placement work, without need for a further visa, in which departments could offer their graduands paid or unpaid temporary employment to help improve their employability. Although the Tier 1 general visa route, which had previously been helpful especially for research students, would no longer be available, the UK Borders Agency was not restricting the Tier 2 route in terms of numbers of visas that can be issued. This meant that the University, as a recognised sponsoring employer, could offer work to its international graduates, for example as research assistants. Positions could initially be offered for periods of three years and extended for a further two years, and the total period could count as part of ‘settlement’ for remaining indefinitely in the UK. Students and staff could check the online register of all Tier 2 employers designated as sponsors (http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/documents/employersandsponsors/pointsbasedsystem/pbsregisterofsponsors).

Students were also encouraged periodically to check the Centre’s international employability webpage. Departments were asked to encourage their international students to take advantage of biannual talks and individual advice from the immigration firm contracted to the CEC to provide these services.

ACTION: All members

4. Ethical Policy Framework consultation (ENG11-P2)

The University wished to have a consistent approach to its ethical approval processes and to be better able to meet any possible challenges to its ethical position. The three Faculty Boards were asked to offer comments on both principle and detail of the draft in order to ensure procedures were adequate but not unnecessarily bureaucratic: the draft therefore did not detail procedures. .

Members commented that:

i. The Framework should make clear to staff and students what it meant by an ‘ethical approach’;

ii. EPSRC would expect grant holders to make their research data available;

iii. Some departments had their own procedures for giving ethical clearance for research, including undergraduates’ final year projects, that were not unnecessarily bureaucratic;

iv. Consideration of ethical issues could be incorporated into taught programmes;

v. A checklist for use when submitting research grant applications would be helpful to staff and HoDs.

Members were asked to submit any further suggestions by the end of May, and to encourage colleagues to do likewise. The revised draft would be considered by Senate in July.

ACTION: All members

5. Reports from Faculty Officers

.1 Dean

(a) University restructuring

A Project Management Board continued to oversee the changes to the new academic structure, and a number of Working Groups were working on changes consequent on restructuring – eg, in learning and teaching. The main achievements to date were:

i. All Deans of Schools had been appointed, and the new Academic Leadership Team (ALT) was now meeting monthly; it included the Deans-Elect, the Vice Chancellor, Deputy Vice Chancellor, Pro Vice Chancellors, Chief Operating Officer and Director of Finance.

ii. The names of the ten new Schools had been approved, and most School senior management teams had begun meeting;

iii. Membership of all University committees would reflect the new academic structure: eg, Senate would include the ten Deans of School but remain the same size;

iv. School Operations Managers had been appointed and would begin 1 August 2011;

v. Most Associate Deans and Heads of Department had been appointed.

The University recognised that the new structure would not be fully in place by the next academic year but structures to enable the Schools to function effectively would be in place by 1 August.

Work currently undertaken by Faculty Boards and Directorates would be dealt with by other committees:

- Changes to probation and promotion procedures should shortly be agreed by Senate and then Council, after which submissions would probably be dealt with by committees comprising groups of Schools.

- Study Leave proposals were likely to be dealt with by HRC.

- Approval of research student pass lists between Senate meetings might be approved by Chair’s action on behalf of Senate.

Changes to Ordinances and Regulations, and Charter and Statutes, were likely to be considered by Senate and Council in July. ADT’s would probably continue to chair APRs and Deans to chair PPRs in Schools other than their own. PQT expected to implement a ‘light touch’ APR, and that Registry would collate data on behalf of Schools; it also proposed that future PPRs would be co-ordinated with accreditation.

Some members noted that greater centralisation of undergraduate admissions meant less room for manoeuvre by departments, and that the situation might be aggravated under the new School structure. They emphasised that, when they met during the August confirmation period, the PVC(T), AD(T)s and Registry staff should be aware that the new Schools would need to maintain a balance of undergraduate numbers not only between Schools but also between programmes, in order that cohorts were appropriate sizes for teaching.

Deans-Elect reported on progress within their new Schools, including the appointment of Associate Deans and Operations Managers. Structural changes within the new School of Civil and Building included the re-integration of the Water, Engineering and Development Centre. The Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering would become the School of Electronic, Electrical and Systems Engineering, and the School of Aeronautical, Automotive, Chemical and Materials Engineering would maintain the current three departments.

The Dean stressed the importance of staff maintaining their focus on the forthcoming REF over the coming academic year, and not losing any research council funding opportunities.

ACTION: All members

(b) Faculty team

The Faculty’s Marketing Officer would maintain support for the Engineering Schools, and wished to continue face to face discussions with staff. The Faculty HR Administrator would continue until the summer of 2012 and Deans-Elect should ensure they obtained the full value of her services during this period. The Faculty Administrator would become Operations Manager for the Wolfson School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering.

Faculty staff who organised the Engineering Experience and Headstart events would continue in post during the next academic year, after which it was possible that central funding for outreach activities might become available. Members were disturbed to learn that a significant proportion of the expected increased funding for University outreach work might be used to fund additional posts in the Academic Registry. They could not see any justification why well-established and successful outreach activities, run by suitably-qualified and experienced staff, should continue to be funded by the Engineering Schools and MLSC, if funding were available for additional Registry positions.

The engCETL and the HEA Engineering Subject Centre would combine as the Engineering Education Centre, and the four Engineering Schools and the Design School would jointly fund 3.9 FTE staff.

(c) League tables

The Engineering Faculty departments had a substantial positive effect on the University’s overall ranking in recently-published national newspaper league tables of universities. It was important that the Deans-Elect emphasised with senior management the continuing significance of the Engineering Schools in such league tables.

(d) Executive Leadership Team (ELT) report

The Dean reported on recent ELT discussions.

i. Placements

The University would aim, in principle, to offer placement opportunities for all students. Engineering Deans-Elect should ensure there was no detriment to the Faculty’s well-established placement programmes while the University developed a wider programme of opportunities.

ii. HEFCE funding

There remained considerable uncertainty regarding future funding, including the effect of increased fees from 2012, a possible cap on numbers, and possible discontinuation of enhanced funding for Band B subject areas. The 2011-12 academic year would be financially problematic for universities, and from 2012-13 their finances would depend largely on student recruitment. The University had recently submitted its proposed access agreement to OFFA, which included its commitment to engage in outreach activities.

iii. Major incident practice on campus 5 July 2011

Members were asked to ensure that colleagues were aware of this practice.

ACTION: All members

iv. 2012 graduation ceremonies

The summer ceremonies would be delayed until September to allow for Olympic activities taking place on campus during July.

v. Senior management positions

Professor Chris Linton had been appointed as the new Deputy Vice Chancellor. The Chief Operating Officer position had been advertised, and the Director of Finance had temporarily taken on this role.

.2 Associate Dean (Research)

(a) Research studentships

The two main funding routes for studentships were EPSRC DTA awards and University Development Fund. The number of studentships funded via the former had declined year on year, in line with EPSRC’s preference for centralising studentships into DTCs, and future funding would probably be similar to the income departments currently received.

The number of studentships funded via the Development Fund had risen recently. £2M would be provided for 2011-12, possibly utilising a ‘strategic allocation’ formula that aimed at supporting departments outwith the Faculty that were less able to obtain research council funding. £1M would be allocated on the basis of a studentship for each department and research school, and a further £1M via open competition. The Research Team was currently seeking a list of suggested applicants from each School, and it was important that Engineering ADs(R)-Elect ensured their Schools bid for these places. Deans-Elect were asked to ensure this happened. The allocation would be based on the quality of both application and proposal, and should fit with the University’s Strategy. Some of the five sports-related places should be appropriate for suitably-qualified Engineering candidates.

The Dean stressed that all Engineering representatives needed to argue that some of this funding should be used to support EPSRC CIM and DTC studentships to which the University was already committed.

ACTION: Deans-Elect/ ADs(R)-Elect

(b) Infrastructure funding

The University would receive £6.65M from a new SCIF allocation to support its building programme up to March 2015. The PVC(R) was likely to use funding for equipment, and Deans-Elect were encouraged to begin gathering evidence to demonstrate the need for funding in case bids were requested at short notice. They were also encouraged to raise the issue at ALT.

ACTION: Deans-Elect

(c) REF update

The timetable for March 2010 – Spring 2015 was now on the REF webpage, and more detailed guidance regarding publications would be available in July 2011. Key census period dates were July 2013 (research expenditure and number of research students), October 2013 (number of staff in post), November 2013 (deadline for submissions) and December 2013 (deadline for publications). The University might issue an internal REF timetable, which would try to avoid clashes with important teaching-related dates.

The list of panels and sub-panels for the Units of Assessment were similar to the previous RAE.

.3 Associate Dean (Teaching)

(a) Recruitment (ENG11-P3)

Data for the new Schools noted.

(b) APR reports (ENG11-P4)

Interactions with the Quality Enhancement Officer had proved helpful and effective.

(c) NSS 2011

The University’s overall response rate was similar to its average over the last six years of 75%. Results would be available during August and September.

(d) Examination question papers

A significant number of papers for Semester One examinations had been found to have errors. These involved considerable cost, not least in dealing with group IPC submissions. Members were asked to inform colleagues that they must check their papers for possible mistakes before submitting them.

ACTION: All members

6. Award of Research Degrees

The Board made the following awards:

Doctor of Engineering:

Department of Civil and Building Engineering:

B Nowbati

Doctor of Philostophy:

Department of Aeronautical and Automotive Engineering:

K Astley

G S Johl

Department of Chemical Engineering:

N Al-Hazi

W Yateem

Department of Civil and Building Engineering:

B M Derie

M M I D Manthilake

Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering:

M Bliss

C V Long

I W Richardson

Department of Materials:

M Zhang

Wolfson School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering:

A Buenting

H J Buse

Z Cui

E Demirci

M Fahad

M Gatto

A Guerrero

J E T Rimmer

T Widjanarko

7. Personal Titles

Congratulations were offered to the following members of Faculty who had been awarded Personal Titles:

Professor Ralph Gottschalg, Professor of Applied Photovoltaics, Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering

Professor Andrew West, Professor of Intelligent Systems, Wolfson School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering

Professor Robert Harrison, Professor of Automation Systems, Wolfson School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering

Professor Changqing Liu, Professor of Electronics Manufacture, Wolfson School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering

SECTION B – Formal ‘Starred’ Items for Approval

8. Actions of the Associate Dean (Teaching) (ENG11-P6)

Approved.

SECTION C – Items for Information

9. Staff-Student Committees

Noted.

10. Any other business

The Dean thanked all members for their contributions to the work of the Faculty Board, and asked them to pass similar thanks to colleagues who had been members in the past. The Board had made a good contribution to the University, including to its new structure and governance.

The Dean was also thanked by members for his leadership of the Faculty in recent years.

Author – Marie Kennedy

Date – June 2011