Originally planned to end at the close of 2023, Phase 2 of the project included a set of workstreams driven out of functional areas looking to make efficiencies in Schools and Professional Services.

Phase 2 completed 12 workstreams including:

• Ethics approval process: Introduction of a risk-based ethics approval process for student projects, reducing the administrative burden for low-risk activity.
• Apprenticeships: Moving from an Academic Professional Apprenticeship to a PGCert for the new lecturer programme. This has reduced the regulatory and administrative burden and allows more bespoke training and development for our new lecturers.
• Placements: Placement progress meetings can now be held online, and post-placement assessments are tailored to the credit weighting. This creates a more bespoke and personalised student experience and reduces staff time spent travelling to in-person placement meetings.

In recognition of the changed landscape related to both the financial situation of the institution and the introduction of a Strategic Portfolio Management approach, the project will pause before scoping Phase 3. This will ensure that Phase 3 is structured and focused on the right areas, involving the right people, and providing the most benefit.

Thank you to everyone who has contributed to the project so far. Whether that’s in Phase 1 as part of the observations or as part of a Phase 2 workstream. Overall, we estimate to have saved over 3200 days a year through the project’s delivery. Whilst we recognise this isn’t felt evenly across the institution, significant savings have been made to both the Academy and Professional Services.

If you’d like to get in touch about the project, email James Badger, Project Manager, at j.w.badger@lboro.ac.uk