Council Minutes 16 January 2020

Minutes Of The Cardiff University Council Held On Thursday 16 January 2020 In Aberdare Hall At 2.30pm

Present:  Professor Stuart Palmer (Chair), Professor Colin Riordan, Professor Karen Holford, Professor Rudolf Allemann, Mr Ricardo Calil, Mr Tomos Evans, Ms Judith Fabian, Professor Dame Janet Finch, Mr Alastair Gibbons, Mr Michael Hampson, Ms Jan Juillerat, Dr Steven Luke, Mr John Shakeshaft, Dr Janet Wademan, Mrs Agnes Xavier-Phillips, Ms Jackie Yip,

Attendees:  Professor Amanda Coffey, Ms Deborah Collins (Secretary), Ms Susan Midha, Ms Alex Payne, Ms TJ Rawlinson, Ms Karin Russell (Minutes), Ms Claire Sanders, Professor Damian Walford Davies, Mr Richard Walters and Mr Rob Williams.

Apologies:  Mr Paul Baston, Dr Carol Bell, Professor Kim Graham, Ms Lin Phillips, Mr David Simmons, Judge Ray Singh

1727 Welcome And Preliminaries

Noted

1727.1 that Professor Dame Janet Finch and Professor Kenneth Hamilton were welcomed to their first meeting since appointment to Council.

1728 Apologies For Absence

The above listed apologies were noted and the meeting was confirmed to be quorate.

1729 Declarations Of Interest

Noted

1729.1 that there were no declarations of interest.

1730 Fee And Access Plan 2018/19

Received and considered paper 19/309B, ‘2018-19 Fee and Access Plan Compliance and Effectiveness Report’.

Noted

1730.1 that before inviting Professor Amanda Coffey to introduce the paper, the Chair extended his congratulations and well wishes on her move to the University of West of England.

1730.2 that in the interim period, until the vacant position is filled, Professor Karen Holford would be covering the work on the Fee and Access Plan.

1730.3 that Professor Amanda Coffey was invited to speak to the paper.

1730.4 that this was the second year that HEFCW had used this report and that HEFCW recognised that the monitoring and effectiveness mechanism was at the beginning of its maturity and that work was underway to improve the evaluation model and the effectiveness of the monitoring processes.

1730.5 that the University was required to submit an annual Fee and Access Plan to HEFCW which was monitored against targets for widening participation and education more widely.

1730.6 that work was underway in relation to the Plan for 2021/22 and that the University was currently required to report on the Plan for 2018/2019.

1730.7 that the purpose of the Compliance and Effectiveness Report was threefold. Universities were required to provide evidence of:
.1 Compliance with regulated fee limits
.2 Compliance with the general requirement of the 2018/19 Fee and Access Plan
.3  Effectiveness of the fee and access plan.

1730.8 that much of the template focussed on regulatory compliance, setting of fee levels and not over charging, and that the Plan enabled the University to monitor its effectiveness against achievement of targets.

1730.9 that in considering the effectiveness of the fee and access plan, Universities were required to provide a commentary only on those cases where achievement had fallen short of the stated target.

1730.10 that there were seven targets where explanatory commentary was provided:

• Proportion of mature full-time first-degree entrants with no previous HE qualification no longer in HE following year of entry
• Number of subjects in the top 25% of the Times Good University Guide subject league tables
• Number of academic schools delivering the mentoring scheme
• Number of Welsh speaking students undertaking part of their studies through the medium of Welsh (5 credits or more)
• Number of schools visited by the HE Roadshow
• Number of students enrolled on the Live Local Learn Local community outreach programme
• Number of student tutor project homework clubs

1730.11 that three of these targets were of particular interest to Council members:
.1 the retention data to mature first time degree evidence – this area had been flagged under TEF as an area of focus and work was being undertaken to scope and review work on retention rates.
.2  the number of subjects in the top 25% of the Times Good University Guide subject league tables, a Way Forward Target.
.3  the number of Welsh speaking students undertaking part of their studies through the medium of Welsh, which was being given increased emphasis by HEFCW  - the report provided an explanatory commentary and had given assurance that work was ongoing in that area.

The following points were confirmed in response to questions raised by Members of Council:

1730.12 that the Fee and Access Plan approval was an iterative process and that there would be opportunities for the University to revise and resubmit their plan over the coming few months in response to HEFCW feedback.

1730.13 that mature entry targets were a benchmark and there was recognition that mature students bring different experiences and presented specific and greater challenges in terms of retention.

1730.14 that the University had met all of its commitments in the Fee and Access Plan 2018/19 in relation to informing prospective students of the aggregate amount of fees which would be charged for their courses prior to commencement.

1730.15 that the University should work towards a position where Fee and Access Plan development and monitoring was regarded as a useful planning and monitoring tool and an element of normal business - Council should receive regular reports on the development and monitoring of the Plan and on the use of Fee and Access Plan funding generally.

Resolved

1730.16 That Council approved the monitoring and evaluation report for onward submission to HEFCW on 24 January 2020.

1731 Any Other Business

Noted that there were no other items

1732   Next Meeting

The next meeting of Council is on 10 February 2020.