Provost's Update #14 (November 2018)

Intake Numbers

31 October was the census date to confirm this year’s main intake of students. There is still movement in numbers – there have been some very late enrolments as well as some withdrawals. So, I will simply share some broad figures (rather than try for spurious accuracy) using the graph below. As you will see, we are ahead of target overall, largely as a result of a significant overshoot in International PGT numbers (as well as smaller overshoots in EU and International UG numbers). In part, the overshoot in International PGT reflects some marked changes in behaviour with many students delaying offer confirmation until they were able to meet their conditions. For the next session, while overall numbers of new students sector-wide are expected to decline due to the demographic dip, applications to Warwick are currently some 8% ahead of the same time last year.

Financial issues

The year-end figures are still being finalised but we expect the surplus to be comfortably ahead of budget, primarily because of underspend in a number of areas. The combination of a good position on recruitment and an over-budget surplus has allowed us to release some of last year’s savings to support expenditure in a number of strategically important areas that are outside of the existing budget. Subject to final approval by FGPC, we will be able to support a number of initiatives which include the following: Health Centre extension. expand the activities of Global Challenges Research Funding. additional funds to the academic equipment budget for 2018/19. to scope work on the old sports centre with a focus on developing and examinations hub and student study space. development of the International Strategy. funding for some further improvement work in the social sciences building

Institute of Advanced Study – new opportunities in response to university strategy

IAS has new external funds to support research Innovation and Internationalisation for academic departments: Early Career Innovation Fellowships will support researchers from all disciplines at Warwick in the translation of research for societal, cultural or economic benefit. This is the “innovation” version of our highly successful Early Career Fellowships, and will be awarded to submitting PhD students and research fellows already in post, for six months in the first instance, usually on a full-time basis. The first fellows are already appointed: Dr Iwona Janicka, (Modern Languages & Cultures) is working on art and speculative design in the criminal justice arena. Richard Whitfield (Chemistry) is developing polymeric materials for controlled-release applications such as drug delivery. Fernandes Fellowships will develop lasting research collaborations between Warwick and Europe. Colleagues can nominate researchers that are currently working at European institutions in tenure-track or early academic positions for funding to visit Warwick for a total of three months. They will undertake a program of research and scholarship with their host and other collaborators. Fernandes Fellows will receive a stipend of £2,000 per month to cover their living expenses here, and travel costs of up to £1,000. The Warwick team will be further supported with up to £3,000 for research, support and training costs. IAS Associate Fellowship is open to current Warwick postdocs. This non-stipendiary fellowship allows access to a range of opportunities to help develop independent research careers; innovation, interdisciplinarity, internationalisation, research excellence, independence and leadership.

Update from CSAG

The Mathematical Sciences Building extension to Zeeman was successfully completed ahead of the start of the 2018/19 academic year and that the space vacated in the Zeeman Building had been allocated to meet a variety of short term needs. Post-completion fit out works are in progress in the NAIC, while the Sports Hub, Kirby Corner Car Park, Cryfield Village Residences, and the MEC building projects are all progressing according to plan. Phase 1 of the Arts Centre 2020 works had been handed over and is in use. Estates are currently procuring Phase 2. The Faculty of Arts Building and the Interdisciplinary Biomedical Research Building are both expected to begin on site in early 2019, and complete early in 2021. Work is also progressing in Senate House to create a more centrally located student hub and this will be delivered over the course of the current year. We will also be exploring options for the use of the Sports Building on Main Campus which becomes vacant once the Sports Hub is commissioned in April 2019. The Beehive (formerly Surveyor Court) is now in use and of the 2700m2 space available, around 2/3 has been allocated to house the Warwick Employment Group, Warwick Conferences Sales and Marketing and WMG.

Reviews and Consultations

There are a number of projects that are starting/continuing under the ARC banner and just incase you aren’t aware, I thought it might be helpful to summarise some of the main ones. STP Review – this will be a light touch review to identify changes that will improve operations and efficiency in the existing system. A sub group of ARC is gathering evidence from key stakeholders and will then come up with a number of recommendations. This same group will also be exploring longer term options to reduce casualization and will scope the work that would be needed to deliver more substantive change. Academic Processes Review Group – we are in the early stages of this work and as many of you know, we’re currently seeking some feedback from HoDs before engaging in much broader consultation with staff and with UCU. Size and Shape and Targets – we have been asking for views from you all on possible student number targets beyond the current planning horizon. This is to help us with some planning work that we do around the evolution of space on campus up until 2030. The same data will enable us to do some longer term modelling around the impact of planned growth trajectories and the financial impact of future funding regimes.

Execblog Resource : 05 Nov 2018 12:32 |  Comments (0) |  Report a problem