The magazine of the University of Dundee • December 2012

www.dundee.ac.uk/pressoffice
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court news
Court News
The Court met in September for the annual Court Retreat and
again at the end of October for the first full meeting of the new
academic year which was hosted by the Dundee University Students
Association. The University Strategy to 2017, Outcome Agreement
with the Scottish Funding Council, and annual review of Court were
key topics of debate for the Court.
Vision Presentations
Following on from the presentation of the University Vision by
the Principal in June, the Court has subsequently seen a series of
presentations from senior officers across the University outlining
their 5-year vision. The Court has greatly enjoyed learning more
about plans and aspirations of the College of Life Sciences, DUSA
and SASS, and will hear from the remaining Colleges throughout
the academic year.
University Strategy to 2017
The Development of the University Strategy to 2012 and supporting
Performance Management Framework has been a significant item
on agenda for recent meetings of Court. October saw Court approve
the final version of the Strategy to 2017, the Key Performance
Indicators and targets. These are available on MyDundee under the
heading of Transformation – Operating Plans 2013-2016.
Outcome Agreements with the Scottish Funding Council
From 2012 onwards, annual Outcome Agreements will be agreed
between the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) and Universities to
define the expectations of learners, businesses, communities and
the SFC. At the Retreat in September the Court discussed and
approved the agreement for 2012/13 for the University. Work on
the Outcome Agreement for 2013/14 has already begun and Court
expects further debate throughout the coming year.
Governance
After discussing leadership for the Learning & Teaching strategy
Court approved the appointment of a Vice-Principal for Learning
& Teaching. An advertisement appeared in the Times Higher
Education Supplement on 1 November, and Court will be closely
involved in the appointment.
The Court also discussed its own membership and, noting that three
lay members would complete their maximum terms of office within
the next 2 years, Court approved an advertisement for the resulting
vacancies. The advertisement appeared in the Scotsman, Herald
and Courier on 4 November 2012, and further information on the
positions can be found at www.dundee.ac.uk/ad/laycourt.
contact•December 12
A recurring theme over the last twelve months has been discussions
on the Review of Scottish Higher Education Governance, following
publication of its report earlier in the year. As a result of the
report, the Committee of Scottish University Chairs of Courts
has established a steering group to develop a Scottish Code of
University Governance and Court heard that our own Chair of Court
had been asked to join the steering group, and that consultation
would begin shortly.
Ninewells Cancer Campaign
The Court received an annual update from the Ninewells Cancer
Campaign (NCC) and was delighted to hear of its success in raising
funds for the ‘Jacqui Wood Centre’. At the time of the October
meeting of Court the Campaign had raised around £1m, and
Court looked forward to hearing more from the NCC when it visits
Ninewells in February 2013.
Centre for Translational and Interdisciplinary Research
The Court was also delighted to hear of the success of the bid to
the HEFCE/BIS initiative for major capital projects. The award of
£12m would enable the completion of the £38m project, and Court
expressed its congratulations to Professor Mike Ferguson and his
team in raising this amount.
Contact
The next edition of Contact will be published in February 2013.
The copy deadline for that edition is Monday 14 January 2013.
Submissions should be sent to h.mcnally@dundee.ac.uk by
that date.