Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities

Faculty Board

SSH09-M1

Minutes

The Minutes of Meetings of the Faculty Board are posted on the Web for three years after the relevant date.

Minutes of the Meeting of the Faculty Board held on Tuesday 19 May 2009.

Members: Professor Terry Kavanagh (Chair), Professor Kathy Armour, Dr Malcolm Barnard,

Dr Anja Baumhoff, Grahame Boocock, Dr Paul Byrne, Dr Ian Campbell, Dr Sudipto Chatterjee (ab), Professor Laurie Cohen, Dr Daniel Conway (ab), John Costello (ab), Professor Duncan Cramer,

Dr Jack Demaine, Professor Alan France (ab), Dr Adrian Gourlay (ab), Dr John Harrison (ab), Professor Roger Haslam (ab), Professor Elaine Hobby, Tony Hodgson, Dr David Howe,

Dr Dennis Howitt (ab), Dr Jeremy Leaman (ab), F J Levey (ab), Professor Marsha Meskimmon,

Dr Jonathan Millett (ab), Professor Myra Nimmo, Professor Shirley Pearce (ab),

Professor Eric Pentecost, Professor Ian Reid, Phil Sawdon (ab), N P Shah, Professor Dennis Smith, Professor Anne Souchon, Ruth Stubbings, Professor Mark Webber, John Whittaker (ab),

Mark Wright

Apologies for absence: Dr Sudipto Chatterjee, Dr Daniel Conway, John Costello,

Professor Alan France, Dr Adrian Gourlay, Dr John Harrison, Professor Roger Haslam,

Dr Dennis Howitt, Dr Jeremy Leaman, F J Levey, Dr Jonathan Millet, Professor Shirley Pearce,

Phil Sawdon, John Whittaker

In attendance: Sally McKinley (Secretary), David Lilley (for Item 5), Lesley Mansell (for item 6)

Present: Professor Malcolm King

1. Minutes (SSH08-M2)

NOTED: The minutes of the Meeting of the Social Sciences and Humanities Faculty Board, held on Tuesday 11 November 2008 were CONFIRMED.

2. Matters Arising from the Minutes Not Appearing Elsewhere on the Agenda

2.1 Establishment of History at Loughborough

NOTED: On-going developments and challenges arising from the newly established History programmes in the Department of Politics, International Relations and European Studies were outlined:

(i) Developments

The appointment of a second member of academic staff, Marcus Collins, had been approved with another expected to be in position when the History programme will be launched in October 2009. The History programmes had been approved at Senate. Applications were healthy and Professor Chris Szejnmann, the Head of History, was confident that there would be a good intake in October. Library funding provision for History had been spent and there was now a database of primary material available. AHRC bids had been disappointing but a History studentship had been offered to a student. Subject to Senate approval in July 2009, the department would be changing its name to the Department of Politics, History and International Relations.

(ii) Challenges

It was hoped a new History programme would be introduced next year. To launch the programme Professor Richard Overy would be visiting the University on 28 October 2009 to give a lecture on ‘History for the 21^st Century’. Teaching provision with the Departments of English and Drama and Geography were being discussed further. It was hoped to secure a second PhD studentship next year. Planning for REF was underway with personal research planning meetings already being held. The department would like to include in their portfolio of courses a single honours in History for 2012/13.

The Board expressed their thanks to Professor Szejnmann and the team for getting the new History programmes off the ground and to the Library for developing the History resources.

2.2 School of Sport and Exercise Sciences

NOTED: The shadow management team was meeting every two weeks. A working document on organising teaching had been formulated. The publicity material from the new building launch was being used to form the basis of establishing research themes. The Royal visit had provided a feel good factor and also a means to invite the BBSRC to return to see what work the School was currently undertaking. The School would also be meeting Astra Zeneca and Unilever in June. The School was currently undergoing some difficulties with the split of Biosciences and Psychology and the stand alone Ergonomics subjects and were behind in agreeing student loads, space and technical support. The School was unable to move quickly in order for the Finance Office and Planning Office to allocate budgets accordingly but it was hoped that the split business plans would be approved shortly.

2.3 School of Design

NOTED: A steering group had been set up which was looking towards the structure, organisation and development of a Design School. A document would be submitted to Senate for 1 July 2009 to seek formal approval of the establishment of a Design School. Working groups on financial, operational, teaching and learning and enterprise were moving forward positively. The nature of the work, new teaching and learning programmes and new research groups were being established. The development of the School of Design Research enabling the coordination of research and development across the school was being developed. Stage C RIBA had been approved. The project was on target to meet the completion date of June 2001 and building would begin on car park 9 early next year. It was anticipated that a new car park will be built where the bungalows on East Park were currently situated. The School was looking for a new name that was broad and inclusive.

3. Dean’s and Associate Deans’ Reports

3.1 Dean’s Report

RECEIVED: A report from the Dean.

(i) Graduate School

NOTED: The review of the Graduate School was on-going and will make some strong recommendations. A report would be presented at the next Board meeting.

(ii) Promotion to Senior Lecturer Criteria

NOTED: Thanks were extended to Professor Dennis Smith for his and his colleagues’ hard work. The new approved promotion criteria would be in use from Autumn 2009. Seventeen Senior Lecturer applications had been received this academic year and all but four had been successful one of which will be promoted with the new criteria.

(iii) Programme Performance Reviews

NOTED: The Department of Politics, International Relations and European Studies and the School of Sport Science and Exercise would be undertaking their PPRs shortly.

(iv) RAE

NOTED: The RAE results had been excellent for the Faculty with one or two exceptional outcomes. The Department of Design and Technology received the highest number of 4* publications and the Business School and Department of Economics had improved significantly on previous results. Congratulations were expressed to the Faculty despite the fact their hard work had not been converted into the QR funds that were hoped for. Loughborough University was now firmly on the list of top twenty research universities.

(v) Impact of recession (tabled paper)

NOTED: A tabled paper showing positive and negative impacts of the recession already experienced and potential impacts was received. Negative impacts so far included students withdrawing from field trips and other additional cost items, reduced public funding, redundancy of placement students and higher rent defaults among students. Positive impacts included an increased interest from Loughborough students in PG(T) courses and PhDs, cheaper courses for international students, and a major improvement in the quality and quantity of applicants for short term jobs. Other impacts included accountancy firms expressing their concern that students weren’t applying for accountancy jobs because media hype had led students to believe there were no jobs. Board members were requested to send any further identified issues to the Dean.

ACTION: Faculty Board members

(vi) Industrial action

NOTED: The Union had pulled out of the ballot and had agreed to go to ACAS with the employers and seek another ballot in the Autumn if required. There was concern about the risk of redundancy of staff, especially with respect to new Universities, but Loughborough was in a strong position compared to other institutions in the sector to weather the likely cuts in Higher Education funding in the next few years.

(vii) Financial position

NOTED: There had been more than a 20% drop in the unit of resource for QR funding. STEM subjects had been protected and as a result the balance of wealth in the University had moved to the other two Faculties. Of the additional £6m QR awarded, £1.5m had been earmarked to go back to departments. It had been agreed that each Faculty would bid for £700k. The impact on departmental budgets was challenging and it was important that the Faculty received a fair share of the reward. The University had determined a surplus of £9m as a way of preparing for cuts in 2010/11. The Dean was congratulated for fighting the Faculty’s corner at such a difficult time.

(viii) Departmental planning

NOTED: The Research Excellence Framework (REF) will take into consideration the number of successfully completed PhDs. The Faculty was encouraged to bid for the maximum number of studentships from the £1m that had been allocated for studentships next year. It was agreed that there should be a move towards a business planning model in departments that would accurately reflect departments’ capabilities. It was felt that an ‘overall’ 3 year plan that can’t be changed centrally should also be included. It was noted that the STEM subject allocation of funding had enabled an ‘enhancement’ of subjects in the Faculties of Engineering and Science. It was further reflected that the Faculty had been willing to help out with the Faculty of Science that had been in difficulties for more than five years. It was anticipated that there would be an equitable distribution of funding to ensure the future of all departments in the University.

3.2 Associate Dean (Teaching) (SSH09-P12) (electronically circulated)

RECEIVED: A report from the Associate Dean (Teaching).

(i) Recruitment

NOTED: Home undergraduate recruitment was looking healthy across the Faculty with applications up by 12%. Conversions from C to CF were very good and there had also been a significant increase in the number of CIs across many departments. However, with an increase in applications from competitor institutions and potential financial penalties from HEFCE on over-recruitment, it was likely that there would be a higher number of CIs in August. It was expected that all the Faculty’s departments/schools would make their undergraduate intake targets. As the University was at the upper end of its approved students numbers, departments were requested to be ‘cautious when considering requests from applicants to transfer programmes, change year of entry from 2010 to 2009 or move from CI to CF, and not to give any firm undertakings without referring to the Admissions Office first’. It was likely the admissions process would be slower and more drawn out than in previous years in order to maintain the limit required.

International undergraduate applications were up by 11% with the Business School and Department of Economics attracting the majority of applicants.

Postgraduate taught home recruitment was stable but still remained the most challenging. There had been a 7.5% increase in applications and a 10% decrease in offers. The Faculty was reminded of the importance of publicising their postgraduate taught programmes department to department.

Postgraduate taught international recruitment was healthy with a 23% increase in applications. The Faculty continued to attract significant numbers of applications from China/Taiwan.

(ii) Annual Programme Review 2006-2007

NOTED: The full Annual Programme Review report was over 30 pages long and copies were available from the AD(T) on request. All the Annual Programme Reviews had been successful with a strong portfolio of programmes and good students, progression, attainment, external views and employment profiles. There was clear evidence of quality enhancement and rigorous quality assurance and the Faculty Quality Enhancement Officer will be working alongside schools and departments to ensure the good practice will be disseminated. High levels of satisfaction had been received from the majority of Student/Staff Liaison Committee meetings. Recruitment of home postgraduate taught students remained an area for improvement and all the schools/departments were aware of the challenges presented and continued to address the problems concerned.

3.3 Associate Dean (Research)

RECEIVED: A verbal report from the Associate Dean (Research).

(i) EMUA feedback

NOTED: The EMUA workshop had been an interesting event with discussions about possible further collaborations and how EMUA could facilitate new prospects. The AD(R) will circulate information when it becomes available.

(ii) ESRC

NOTED: The ESRC were changing the way of allocating postgraduate research training. The method of responding was extremely complicated and it was unclear what formulation the end result would be. The AD(R) and PVC(R) would be contacting departments to discuss this further.

(iii) Faculty Workshops

NOTED: Research Coordinators had agreed that two workshops should take place on ESRC and AHRC matters and to discuss Research Council issues and grants. It was hoped the first workshop would take place in the Autumn and this would be discussed further over the next couple of months. The School of Sport and Exercise Sciences would keep in contact with the AD(R) about the BBSRC.

4. Award of Degrees (tabled)

NOTED: The award of Higher Degrees to candidates whose examinations had been conducted since the last meeting of Senate.

5. Graduate Destination Data (SSH09-P13)

RECEIVED: A presentation from David Lilley, Careers Advisor, Careers Centre.

NOTED: The situation for the University in 2008/09 was clear with a decrease in employment opportunities and an increase in unemployment. However, the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities had proved itself to be resilient, diverse and able to adapt to the economic situation with an increase in graduate level employment which was encouraging during a difficult economic time. The situation will be more difficult this year and the Careers Centre had undertaken several initiatives to help. The biggest ever Careers Fair had taken place in the Autumn 2008 and a record number of employers had attended despite the post Christmas downturn (20-30%) of job advertisements. The AGR were urging members not to pull out of the job market and not to stop recruiting. Over 70 bookings had been submitted for the next Careers Fair including a good number of employer presentations. The Careers Centre had set up on the web a recession advice section which was being updated regularly. Development work was being undertaken with local SMEs. This year also saw the largest Springboard Fair to date. The participants at this fair were specially invited and known to be of particular interest to students of this Faculty. A Careers Mentor database of University alumni who were willing to be contacted from those interested in their area of employment had been set up. Two new workshops on effective career networking had been introduced.

6. Single Equality Action Plan

RECEIVED: A report from Lesley Mansell, Equality and Diversity Adviser.

NOTED: The Faculty was reminded of the equality obligations that were a consequence of the Race Relations Amendment Act 2000, the Disability Discrimination Act 2005 and the Equality Act 2006. Each department was required to uphold equality of opportunity, the promotion of good relations and positive attitudes and to eliminate harassment and unlawful discrimination. The University also had a statutory duty to promote race, disability and gender equality. The Government had recognised that endorsing these duties takes time and was putting in place equality schemes supported by action plans that HEIs will be expected to adhere to. Some of the activities were already being carried out by the University such as sharing good practice, recruitment and selection training, the promotion of the Two Ticks Disability Scheme, accessible documentation, and provision of placements for students. The University was in the process of developing its action plans to incorporate sexual orientation, religion or belief, age and gender identity and these would be cascaded down to departments. Departments were asked to identify one item to focus on and to contact the Equality and Diversity Adviser or Human Resources Advisers for further information if required.

The Board noted that the design of some lecture theatres were not particularly disabled student friendly. It was hoped that during the design of new lecture theatres, places for wheelchair users would be included in the seating arrangements which would improve the interaction with other students.

7. Staff Survey

NOTED: As a result of the Staff Survey several working groups had been established:

(i) Steering group members: Neil Halliwell (Deputy Vice Chancellor), Will Spinks (Chief Operating Officer), Rob Allan (Director of HR), Sandra Jasper (HR Adviser)

(ii) Support – to produce recommendations for supporting staff effectively through future major projects.

(iii) Review – to consider existing performance and development review schemes with the intention of establishing an institutional framework.

(iv) Research Assistance - To consider concerns made evident in the staff survey by research staff across the university and also to consider the implications for Loughborough University of the Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers published last year by UUK and RCUK. To make recommendations about future university practice and policy.

(v) Cross Campus – to explore mechanisms to encourage staff to access career progression opportunities wherever they might occur on campus.

(vi) Rapport – to look at effective communication across campus.

(vii) Exchange - to improve communication between the Executive Leadership Team and all staff.

(viii) Simplicity - to reduce bureaucracy and to explore workload issues.

The Dean was Chair of the Simplicity Working Group and had put forward a series of recommendations such as reducing the duplication at departmental level of records allegedly held at centre. A report would be submitted to the Human Resources Committee in June and with a final report published in the Autumn.

8. Estates Strategy for the Faculty

NOTED: It was expected that the administrative staff in Admin 1 and 2 Buildings would be moved to the Rutland Building over the next 18 months. It was felt the momentum of the East Park development was slowing down and that it was important to ensure the HEBS 2 project kept to its deadlines among others.

9. Associate Dean (Teaching) Action

RATIFIED: Actions taken by the Associate Dean (Teaching) in approving the following:

i. Waivers of Programme Regulations

ii. Appointment of Programme Boards

iii. Credit Transfers

(Further details of the actions were available from the Faculty Board Secretary upon request)

10. Elected members of the Social Sciences and Humanities Faculty Board (SSH09-P14)

NOTED: Changes in Senate Regulation X, Memberships of the Faculty Board.

11. External Examiner Reports

NOTED: That reports of External Examiner’s had been deposited with the Faculty Board Secretary and were available for consultation on request.

12. Curriculum Sub-Committee

12.1 New Programme Proposals

NOTED: Curriculum Sub-Committee will be recommending to Learning and Teaching Committee (subject to any matters being resolved to the satisfaction of the ADT) prior to their meeting on 4 June 2009 the following new programme proposals:

· MA Art and the Public Sphere from LUSAD commencing October 2010.

· MRes Art, Design & Performance by Practice from LUSAD commencing October 2010.

· BA Hons Textile: Innovation & Design from LUSAD commencing October 2010.

· MSc Economics from the Department of Economics commencing September 2009.

13. Staff/Student Committees

NOTED: Reports of the Staff/Student Committee meetings had been deposited with the Faculty Board Secretary as follows:

Undergraduate, Department of Economics	04.03.09
MBA	24.03.09, 24.11.08
Department of Geography	04.03.09, 14.05.08, 29.10.08
PG Programme in Management & Leadership: HEA	11.02.09
MSc Management/MSc International Management/MSc Marketing & Management/MSc Finance & Management/MSc Business Analysis & Management	03.11.08
PG Diploma in Management & Leadership (Aggregate Industries)	04.12.08

14. Any Other Business

NOTED: The Faculty thanked Professor Dennis Smith for his work during his appointment as Head of the Department of Social Sciences. Professor Ian Reid who had been the longest standing Head of Department, now ending his fifth term in the Summer, was thanked for all his work and commitment to the Faculty and the University.

15. Date of Next Meeting

The next Faculty Board meeting will take place prior to a Directorate meeting on Tuesday 10 November 2009.

Author – Ms S J McKinley
May 2009