UEB 9 November 2015

• UEB received a draft paper on Defining Cardiff University’s Academic Research Ambition. It was agreed that some points would be clarified within the paper before being submitted to Senate for discussion at the meeting on 18 November.
• It was noted that that Cardiff & Vale UHB had agreed to jointly fund a joint research office with the University.
• The recently published HE Green Paper ‘Fulfilling our Potential: Teaching Excellence, Social Mobility and Student Choice’, with a deadline for responses by 15 January 2016, was noted. It was agreed that the Green Paper should be included on the agendas of Senate, Policy & Resources Committee and Council for discussion.  It was also agreed that despite much of the proposals being related specifically to England that the University should still respond to the consultation with Professor Thomas and Professor Price to lead on the research and teaching aspects respectively with input from Planning and Communications.
• Professor de Leeuw’s noted her recent trip to Namibia to visit the Phoenix Project.
• The Vice-Chancellor summarised some of the issues discussed at the recent Heads of School meeting.
• UEB received the update on progress towards The Way Forward KPIs before it goes to Policy and Resources Committee and Council.
• UEB received the high-level risk register before it goes to Policy and Resources Committee and Council.
• UEB received the latest update of the Capital Investment Programme and reviewed the priority listings prior to it being presented to Policy and Resources Committee and Council.
• UEB received several capital business cases:
  • Student and Programme Data Lifecycle. The project is part of the £16M Educational Portfolio.  The investment would make improvements to systems data and user experience over a three year period. UEB endorsed the case prior to it being presented to Policy and Resources Committee.
  • Network and Telecommunications Refresh Programme Telephony Phase 2. UEB agreed to approve the recommendation to fully migrate University telephony services to VOIP and endorse the release of funding for the project during 2015/16. The case will be presented to Policy & Resources and Council for note.
  • Transforming the Libraries Programme. UEB agreed to the release of funding to include development of the Libraries Services design and completion of the business case by January 2017.

UEB received the following regular reports

• PVC College of Physical Sciences & Engineering Monthly Report.
• Director of Communications & Marketing Monthly Report and Forward Plan.
• Report on International and European activities.