Present: Principal, Professors The Lord Sewel, Logan and Houlihan, Dr JG Roberts, Professors Rodger and Torrance, Ms C Macaslan, Professors Urwin, Bruce, Baker, Jolliffe, Forte, Racey, Buckland, Sharp, Macinnes, Jordan, Graham, Alexander, Watson, Leboutte, Archbold, Adams, Smith, Mather, Mitchell, Hunter, Ohlmeyer, Dunkley, Duff, Player and Salmon, Dr AD Clarke, Dr B Fennell, Dr J Murdoch, Ms M Ramsay, Mr PB Wilson, Mr WTC Brotherstone, Dr D Hay, Dr D Heddle, Mrs B Hookey, Dr PR Kinnear, Dr DJ Lurie, Dr WD McCausland, Dr PFA MacConnell, Ms DW McKenzie Skene, Dr D Macphee, Dr MR Masson, Dr AJ Mordue, Dr J Sheehan, Dr C Thomson, Dr SP Townsend, Dr A Venneri, Mr D Cockburn, Mr C Buchanan and Mr J Beardsley with Dr N Dower and Ms L Smith in attendance

Apologies for absence were received from Professors Sloane, Mordue, Sleeman, Helms, Ritchie, Gane, Little, Chandler, Bryden, Gilbert, Flin, Dawson, Ingram, Beaumont, Gow, Imrie and Reid, Dr AR Akisanya, Dr LH Chappell, Dr G Hesketh, Dr H Hotson, Dr A Hull, Dr J King, Dr S Lawrie, Dr WF Long, Dr J MacDowall, Mr LE Moffat, Mrs ML Ross, Dr P Schlicke, Dr HM Wallace, Ms E Brown and Mr C Irish

461. The minutes of the meeting of 13 June 2001, and of the In Absentia and In Person Graduation Ceremonies held between 2 and 18 July 2001, were approved.

462.1 In opening his statement, the Principal welcomed those who were attending their first meeting. In particular, he extended a warm welcome to new colleagues from Northern College, who would be attending Senate meetings prior to Vesting Day.

462.2 The Principal drew attention to a tabled paper entitled Selected Highlights 2000/01, which had formed the basis of his recent presentation to the University Court [Appendix I : copy filed with the principal copy of the minute]. The paper summarised major projects that had been undertaken in the last academic year. It also listed several noteworthy achievements and a selection of major donations and awards. In particular, the Principal reported that the University had achieved, subject to audit, an historical cost surplus greater than the target submitted to the Funding Council.

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462.3 The tabled document was not comprehensive and the Principal acknowledged that everyone in the University was to be congratulated for their superb efforts in contributing to one of the most successful years that the University had experienced. The University’s financial situation was very much healthier than the position two years ago and he acknowledged that achieving last year’s surplus had only been possible by everyone enduring financial constraints. While the Principal personally believed that the University had never been in a stronger position, both academically and financially, the key to maintaining and improving that position was achievement of an even greater surplus in the coming years.

462.4 Continuing to be attractive to students, by offering high quality programmes, and continuing to strengthen the research excellence of the University were key to securing the academic reputation and financial health of the University. The Principal reiterated his aim for the University: that it should strive to improve its international standing and be a top UK University. In his view, there was some way to go to achieve that aim and it was essential that the University should move forward in a planned and focused manner. However, this should be in such a way as to maintain the characteristics of the University: namely, that it should continue to serve the North of Scotland while competing internationally; that it must be research-led and secure international standing as a research University; that is must be a full service institution by offering high quality educational provision in pure and applied areas as well as professional areas; and that it should be a full spectrum University offering different modes and levels of study, to encompass social inclusion and widening participation at undergraduate level through to supporting postdoctoral research, although not necessarily in all subject areas.

462.5 The Principal had concluded that the above aspirations could not be achieved by remaining an institution of medium size in terms of student numbers and without an intellectual critical mass. He believed that continual improvement without a radical streamlining of the University’s current portfolio could only be achieved by the University expanding. However, this could not be a matter simply of admitting more students, as funded places were capped and it would not be acceptable in general to increase student:staff ratios. Several universities had recognised the strengths of forming alliances, and the Principal believed that this was the way forward for the University of Aberdeen to improve its current academic standing. The University was therefore holding discussions at senior management level with the University of the Highlands and Islands Millennium Institute, SAC and The Robert Gordon University, with a view to forming alliances where these were considered to be clearly to the benefit of the University. The forthcoming merger with Northern College, which was to be warmly welcomed and would provide huge and exciting opportunities for developing the University, would be the first of the alliances to come to fruition.

462.6 A major contributory factor to the financial health of the University was the ability to continue to attract major donations and awards. While substantial increases in research spend and attracting new grants had been made within the last five years, it was clear that this trend should not only continue, but would need to be further improved in order to achieve the University’s goals. Many people had been engaged in fundraising and the University was on track to raise its target of £150M by 2010, with £36M being achieved at present. This funding would be largely used for capital projects, proposals for which would be submitted to the University Court in due course after appropriate consultation.

462.7 The Principal then invited the Senior Vice-Principal to outline actions to be taken in the current year.

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463.1 In opening his statement, Professor The Lord Sewel indicated that the University would take stock of its position by considering three broad areas: its shape and direction; appraising its core areas of activity; and reviewing and improving the resource allocation and budgetary mechanisms.

463.2 Criteria would be identified to allow informed judgements to be made in regard to the University’s future shape and direction. Professor Sewel emphasised, however, that this would not be a mechanistic process. He would meet with Heads of Department and School, and other colleagues, with a view to reporting by the end of the academic year on the University’s strengths and future direction. As part of this review, there would be a debate at institutional level to explore how best the University should be organised: in particular, the benefits and implications of moving to a School structure would be explored.

463.3 The three income streams from teaching, research and earned income would be considered in a review of the resource allocation and budgetary mechanisms. Although, in terms of teaching grant, undergraduate student numbers were currently favourable, the market was becoming increasingly competitive and caps on funded places prevented expansion in this area. The University was also continuing to experience difficulties in the recruitment of postgraduate students. The results of the Research Assessment Exercise would inform the budgetary process and any review of resource allocation. Research funding, however, would be finite. Earned income was relatively undeveloped and perhaps offered the most potential for exploring new ways of attracting income.

463.4 Professor Sewel indicated that the current resource allocation model was complex and lacked transparency. He believed that the University should move away from historical based budgets and move to a more transparent method of allocating funds. Any future model also should be responsive to needs for change at short notice, and was likely to include more incentive schemes that would reward performance against agreed objectives. The goal should be to achieve an historical cost surplus of approximately £4M per annum, which would provide a means of funding new ventures as well as securing a reserve to maintain the University’s estate and to cope with unexpected requirements.

463.5 In responding to comments from Senators, the Principal emphasised that it was essential that as much participation as possible should be obtained in taking forward discussions of the various initiatives. To this end, consultation would be transparent and involve all Faculties, to secure as much participation as possible in shaping the future size, structure and direction of the University.

464.1 The Senate received a tabled version of the Interim Report on Admissions and Registrations for 2001 entry that had been circulated with the papers, indicating student registrations as at 9 October 2001 when compared against the admissions targets and the intake at the comparable date in the previous year. [Appendix II : copy filed with the principal copy of the minute].

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464.2 In summary, the number of undergraduate students registered at 9 October 2001 was slightly above target for both "home" full-time and part-time students, with the number of overseas student registrations being almost 50% above target. While postgraduate taught registrations were slightly above and slightly below target for "home" and "overseas" students, respectively, the number of research students registered to date was significantly below target. Research student registration, however, had only commenced on 1 October and would continue during the next few weeks.

465.1 The Senate received a summary of a consultation document on proposals for future quality assurance arrangements in UK higher education and discussed a draft response to the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council (copy filed with the principal copy of the Minute).

465.2 The principal points of discussion were as follows:-

465.3 The majority of members present voted to endorse the draft response, subject to the following:-

466. The Senate approved the following recommendations, to be effective from Vesting Day with Northern College:-

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467.1 The Senate approved the latest dates for the return of examination results in the session 2001-2002 as under:

467.2 The deadline of 18 October 2002 for the return of postgraduate taught courses and programmes was approved subject to agreement that the date would be kept under review.

468. The Senate approved a recommendation that the deadline for the notification to the Office of the refusal of Class Certificates be as follows:-

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469. The Senate approved the Dates of Terms for 2002-2003 and, provisionally, those for the sessions to 2011-2012 (copy filed with the principal copy of the Minute).

The Senate noted that the University Court, at its meetings of 26 June and 18 September 2001, had undertaken the actions indicated below:

471. The Court had approved the Strategic Plan 2001-2005 and supporting documentation for submission to SHEFC.

472.1 The Court had noted a letter dated 21 June 2001 from the Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning to the Principal conveying formal approval of the merger of the two constituent campuses of Northern College in Aberdeen and Dundee with the Universities of Aberdeen and Dundee respectively. The Scottish Executive was drafting a Statutory Instrument which would effect the closure of the College, and specify the date for merger.

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472.2 In the meantime, Ms Cathy Macaslan, Course Director for the B.Ed Honours Primary programme at Northern College had been appointed to the post of Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Education, and Acting Dean pending appointment of the Dean. Until vesting she would be in attendance at those University committee meetings which Deans normally attend. Similarly, College representatives of the new Faculty would also attend the full range of University committees of which they would secure formal membership post vesting.

473. The Court had agreed that the University enter formal negotiations with representatives of the Scottish Agricultural College with the view to the development of a formal partnership agreement for approval in due course by the governing bodies of the two institutions. A joint press statement was issued (27.06.01) announcing that the two institutions had entered into discussions on closer collaboration and the delivery of services to rural Scotland.

474. The Court had agreed that the University enter into formal negotiations with representatives of the University of the Highlands and Islands Millennium Institute to develop a formal partnership agreement for approval in due course by the governing bodies of the two institutions. Building on the existing Memorandum of Understanding between the two institutions a range of strategic issues had been identified for future discussion.

475. The Court, noting that the Senate, for its part, had given its approval, had approved the draft Partnership Agreement with Banff & Buchan College forwarded from the Senate in regard to to the specification of articulation routes by which HNC and HND students would be admitted to the University’s degree programmes, with advanced standing where applicable.

476. The Court had approved the renaming of the University Research Committee as the University Committee for Research & Commercialisation with a revised remit and composition, as previously agreed by Senate (13.6.01).

477. The Court, on the recommendations of the Nominating Committee, had approved the Court’s representation on the joint Court-Senate Committees, as follows:.

Dr G Roberts (Convener), Mr G Stevenson

Professor D Houlihan (Convener), Professor D Ogston, Miss M Main

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Principal, Professor J Sewel, Mr A Mair (Convener), Dr H Fullerton, Mr G Stevenson, vacancy, rector’s Assessor in attendance

Principal, Dr G Roberts, Professor A Rodger, Professor J Simpson, Dr A Dawson, Mrs A Skene

Professor D Houlihan (Convener), Principal

Professor J Sewel, Dr M Mackie, Dr A Dawson, Dr G Roberts, Professor D Houlihan

Principal, Dr N Milne (Convener), Dr G Roberts, Mr R McGregor, Mrs A Skene, Mr S Cannon.

Professor D Houlihan (Convener), Professor I Torrance, Miss A Harper, Miss M Main, Dr G Roberts (in attendance)

Dr G Roberts (Convener), Dr J Farrington, Miss A Harper, Professor J Simpson

NB The Court representation on the Military Education Committee remained as for 2000/01.

478. The Court had approved proposals for a University risk management policy, and the establishment of a Risk Management Committee as a sub-committee of the Joint Planning, Finance & Estates Committee, it would also report to the Audit Committee.

479. The Court, on the recommendation of the Staffing and Development Committee, had approved four policy and procedure documents on (i) Discrimination, Harassment and Bullying; (ii) Management of Work Related Stress; (iii) Procedure for the hearing of Appeals from Academic and Academic-Related Staff; (iv) Redundancy Policy and Procedure (previously agreed by the Court in June 2000), revised in light of further consultations with the campus unions during the past year.

480. The Court had approved a revised Acquisitions and Disposals Policy which had been updated in order to register the University’s collections by September 2001 with Resource, the Government’s Council for Museums, Archives and Libraries.

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481. The Court, noting that under the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999, effective from 1 May 2001, immigration advice and services should be offered to students only by specified employees under an agreed institutional policy, had approved a policy statement on Immigration Advice, prepared by Student Support Services.

482. The Court had received the first draft of a University strategy for the development and implementation of a policy of sustainable development, together with a sustainability work programme 2001-2002. Over recent years sustainable development had become mainstream policy for government and a wide range of institutions and organisations. Notwithstanding concerns about the potential burden on staff, the University Management Committee in giving its approval to the scheme had concluded that the University should move forward with the programme and review the position at the end of the pilot phase.

483. The Court had approved recommendations which had come forward through the annual exercise for the promotion of members of academic and academic-related staff.

484. The Court had received a preliminary report on admissions for entry 2001-2002 and was pleased to note that the University was expected to meet its overall targets for undergraduate home and overseas students. It was as yet too early to draw conclusions from postgraduate admissions statistics.

485. The Senate noted that the Academic Standards Committees, on the recommendations of the relevant Faculties, had approved changes to the list of courses and programmes available, as under:-

Introduction of new Level 2 courses: ‘The Anatomy of Human Organ Systems’, ‘Essential Animal Cell Biology’.

Introduction of new Level 3 course: ‘Ecological Environmental Modelling’.

Withdrawal of the course BI20B1.

Deferral until 2002/3 of the new BSc programme in Medical Computing.

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Introduction of new Level 2 course ‘Cultural History of Medicine’ [reported erroneously to Senate in June as being at Level 4].

Introduction of new Level 5 course: ‘Advanced topics for Safety and Reliability Engineering’ (replacing EG 5583).

Withdrawal of courses EG4591, 5584, 5585 and 5586.

Introduction of new Postgraduate Diploma in Research Methods/MRes programme in Human Geography.

Introduction of new Level 5 course: ‘Dissertation for MRes in Human Geography’.

Introduction of new Level 3 course: ‘Skills for Geologists’.

Introduction of new Postgraduate Certificate/Postgraduate Diploma/MSc programme in Hydrocarbon Enterprise.

Introduction of new Level 5 courses: ‘Oil Industry Overview’, Finding Oil: Geoscience in Exploration & Production’, ‘Getting Oil Out: Engineering from Borehole to Surface’, ‘Cleaning Up Afterwards: Environmental Issues across the Oil Industry’.

Introduction of new Level 2 course: ‘Latin America: Texts and Contexts 1A’.

Introduction of new Level 3 courses: ‘Contemporary Spanish Women’s Narrative’ (replacing SP3053), ‘Advanced Translation Skills’ (replacing SP3066), ‘The Hispanic Detective in Fiction’, ‘Spanish Modernisms 1898-1936’, ‘Tradition and Canon: Selected Readings in Hispanic Studies’, ‘Basque Arts: The Conflict of Belonging’.

Introduction of new Level 3 courses: ‘From Suez to Devolution: Class Conflict, Cultural Critique and Constitutional Change in Post-Imperial Britain, c.1956-1999’, ‘Life in the City: Urban Society and Culture c.1350-1750’, ‘Gender and Politics in Modern Ireland, 1845-1945’, ‘Medicine in the Twentieth Century’.

Re-numbering of all Level 3 courses to be available in either half-session, depending on staff availability.

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KEY Learning Opportunities

Introduction of KEY Learning Level 1 course: ‘Tools for Science’.

Withdrawal of the courses CN1056 and 2009.

Land Economy

Introduction from 2002-3 of new Level 2 course: ‘Land and Property Economics 1’.

Law

Introduction of new Level 4 courses: ‘Comparative Law’, ‘European Legal History’.

Management Studies

Introduction of Postgraduate Diploma Programme: ‘International Management Programme in Leadership (IMPEL)’.

Introduction of new Level 5 courses: ‘Creating the Future’, ‘Personal Leadership Development’, ‘Managing Communication Strategy’, ‘Leading Human Resources for High Performance’, ‘Strategic Business Development’, ‘Finance, Resources and Entrepreneurship’, ‘Knowledge Management and E-Business’, ‘Strategic Implementation’.

Marine Resource Management

Introduction of new Level 1 course:’ Skills for Coastal & Marine Management’.

Philosophy

Introduction of new Level 2 course: ‘Advanced Philosophy 1: Ethics and Aesthetics’.

Physics

Introduction of new Level 4 course: ‘Applied Optics’.

Plant & Soil Science

Withdrawal of the course SS3802.

Psychology

Introduction of modified Level 3 courses: ‘Developmental Psychology’ (replacing PS3508), ‘Social Psychology’ (replacing PS3512).

Sports Science

Introduction of new Level 1 course: ‘Sports & Exercise Coaching’.

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Zoology

Introduction of new Level 4 courses: ‘Bio-ethics’, ‘Evolution and Molecular Ecology’.

486.1 Dr Roberts, who had recently been appointed as Convener of the Space Management and Timetabling Project Board, introduced a report on the production of the teaching timetable for the current academic year (copy filed with the principal copy of the Minutes).

486.2 Dr Roberts acknowledged that an unusual number of serious timetabling problems had been encountered, particularly with the MA and BSc programmes, and that he was determined to identify the reasons so that there was no recurrence of the problems next year. The report would be considered by the University Committee on Teaching and Learning on 12 October, and the Committee would instruct the Space Management and Timetabling Project Board about the action that needed to be taken. Additionally, Dr Roberts had asked the Academic Registrar to e-mail all Heads of Department/School after the meeting of Senate, seeking feedback, by 19 October, on this year’s process. The comments would be analysed and collated, together with information already received, and a report prepared for a meeting of the Project Board, which would be convened shortly thereafter. The Project Board would be asked to report back to the Senate in January, with an interim report being presented to the November Senate if deemed appropriate.

486.3 There following a brief discussion, the principal points of record being as follows:-

487. The Senate noted the List of the Award of University Prizes and Medals for the session 2000-01 (copy filed with the principal copy of the Minutes).

488. The Senate noted that the Principal, on the recommendation of the Dean of the Faculty of Science and Engineering, had approved the appointment of Professor M Player as Convener of the Undergraduate Programme Committee (Engineering) with effect from 1 August 2001 vice Professor H Chandler, who had been appointed Head of the Department of Engineering from that date.

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489. The Senate noted that, with effect from Vesting Day with Northern College, Dr D Hay and Mr N Coutts would be the University Postgraduate Officers for the Education Area of Study, on the recommendation of the Shadow Planning Committee (Education).

490. The Senate noted that the University Statistical Report for 2000-01 was now available and could be obtained from the Senate Office (extension 2039). Any member who wished to raise a matter on the Report for discussion at the next meeting of the Senate was asked to submit it in writing to the Academic Registrar by 5.00 p.m. on Monday 5 November 2001.

491. The Senate noted the following:-

492.1 The Senate received a list of those qualified to receive degrees and diplomas who had applied to have them conferred in absentia [See Appendix to Minutes of June 2002].

492.2 The Senate conferred the degrees on, and awarded the diplomas and other qualifications to, the persons stated.