SFC/15/Min05 Agenda item 2 21 August 2015 The eighty third meeting of the Scottish Further and Higher Education Funding Council was held on Friday, 19 June2015 at 9.30am, at the SFC offices, Edinburgh Present: Officers: Professor Alice Brown (Chair) Robin Crawford Audrey Cumberford Laurence Howells (Chief Executive) Ali Jarvis Professor Maggie Kinloch Professor Anton Muscatelli Paul McKelvie (Vice Chair) Douglas Mundie Professor Albert Rodger Alan Stannett Riona Bell Dee Bird (item 15/43) Gavin Bruce (item 15/33 to 15/35) David Cloy (Interim Secretary) Stephen Crowe (items 15/33 to 15/48) Stuart Fancey (item 15/42 to 15/48) Paul Hagan John Kemp Martin Kirkwood (items 15/33 to 15/48) Halena McAnulty (items 15/42 to 15/47) Sheila Meehan Kathryn O Loan (item 15/43) Fiona O Neill (item 15/47 to 15/49) Seamus Spencer (item 15/33 to 15/35) Claire Taylor (item 15/33 to 15/35) Paul Travers (items 15/33 and 15/34) Observers: Heather Fry (HEFCE) (items 15/36 to 15/51) Robin Baker (Grant Thornton) (item 15/33 to 15/49) Scottish Government: Aileen McKechnie (items 15/33 to 15/35) Rebekah Widdowfield (items 15/33 to 15/48) Jane Holligan(items 15/33 to 15/48)
Apologies: Marlene Wood Lorraine McMillan Dr Keith Nicholson Gordon Maloney (NUS (Scotland)) David Blaney (HEFCW) Michael Cross (Scottish Government) 15/33 Welcome The Chair welcomed Aileen McKechnie, Rebekah Widdowfieldand Jane Holligan of the Scottish Government. 15/34 Update on Glasgow Clyde College (oral) The Council received an update on the review at Glasgow Clyde College. Ali Jarvis left the meeting. The Council noted that: The review of governance at Glasgow Clyde College was nearing completion and a sub group of the Council Board had reviewed the report and the recommendations. The following paragraph is withheld from publication on the Council website under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002, Section 30: Prejudicial to the effective conduct of public affairs [ ] x 1 paragraph Ali Jarvis returned to the meeting. 15/35 Update on SFC s budget (oral) The Council received an update on the SFC s budget position. The following two paragraphs are withheld from publication on the Council website under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002, Section 30: Prejudicial to the effective conduct of public affairs [ ] x 2 paragraphs 2
15/36 Welcome The Chair welcomed Heather Fry of HEFCE. The Chair noted Gordon Maloney s apologies and noted that his term of office as the President of NUS (Scotland) was about to end. Thanks were extended for the significant contribution he had made during his tenure on the Council. 15/37 Chair s business: Papers for discussion and declarations of interest The Chair invited members to indicate if they wished to discuss any of the starred items on the agenda. The recommendations contained within papers SFC/15/28 and SFC/15/31 to SFC/15/34 were agreed without discussion. Paper SFC/15/23 was unstarred for discussion. The Chair reminded Council members of their responsibility to indicate if they have, or may be perceived to have, a conflict of interest under any item. 15/38 Chair s business: Items for report Glasgow Clyde College Board On 19 May the Chair of SFC, Chair of Glasgow Colleges Regional Board and Director of Advanced Learning and Science of the Scottish Government attended the Glasgow Clyde College Board. Strategic Group on Women and Work On 20 May the Chair attended the Strategic Group on Women and Work at the Scottish Parliament. The agenda covered the SGWW s priorities and thefit with Scotland s Economic Strategy as well as the report on The Role and Contribution of Women in the Scottish Economy. Board Chairs meeting On 21 May the Chair attended the Board Chairs meeting at Scottish Enterprise where a presentation on skills development plans was given by the Chair and Chief Executive of SDS. 3
KTP Innovation Showcase event On 28 May the Chair spoke at the KTP Innovation Showcase event where presentations covered a range of subject areas, including young academics working with business. sparqs National Conference On 29 May the Chair spoke at the Sparqs National Conference where the Framework for the Development of Strong and Effective College Students Associations in Scotlandwas launched. The Herald Higher Education Awards 2015 On 1 June the Chair participated as a member of the judging panel for The Herald Higher Education Awards 2015. Buttle UK Legacy Event On 8 June the Chair attended and co Chaired the Buttle UK Quality Mark for Care Leavers Legacy Event. The Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning spoke at the event. The Future of Enhancement and Innovation in Scottish Higher Education Conference The Chair spoke at the Future of Enhancement and Innovation in Scottish Higher EducationConference on 10 June. The Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning also spoke at the event. Gender Conference On 15 June the Chair spoke at the Gender Conference at the University of Stirling where actions to achieve positive change were discussed. CDN College Board Members Day On 16 June the Chair, the Chief Executive and other members of the Board attended the CDN College Board Members Day at which the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning spoke. 4
Campaign for Social Science On 17 June the Chair spoke at the Academy of Social Sciences Campaign for Social Science event held at a Royal Society of Edinburgh. The Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learningprovided the keynote address. 15/39 Minutes of the 20 March 2015, 10 April 2015 and 15 May 2015 SFC meetings (SFC/15/Min02, SFC/15/Min03 and SFC/15/Min04) The minutes of the 20 March 2015, 10 April 2015 and 15 May 2015 meetings were confirmed as true records of the meetings. 15/40 Long term agenda planning (SFC/15/15) The Council received a paper informing members of substantive agenda items proposed for future meetings. The Council agreed that an item on the future financial strategy for SFC be brought to the September Council meeting. 15/41 Strategic Performance Management Framework (SFC/15/16) The Council received a paper introducing the latest version of SFC s performance dashboard. In discussion on the performance dashboard Council noted that the Council executive s assessment was that performance was behind. The following two paragraphs are withheld from publication on the Council website under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002, Section 30: Prejudicial to the effective conduct of public affairs [ ] x 2 paragraphs Having scrutinised and questioned the evidence, Council agreed the executive s assessment of progress. 5
15/42 Remit for 2016 17 Outcome Agreements (SFC/15/17) The Council received a paper proposing the negotiating remit for the 2016 17 refresh of the SFC s outcome agreements with colleges and universities. Declarations of interest had been made by all members with institutional connections, but as discussion was expected to be high level, not at specific institutional level, it was anticipated that it would be unnecessary for members to withdraw from the meeting. The following two paragraphs are withheld from publication on the Council website under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002, Section 30: Prejudicial to the effective conduct of public affairs [ ] x 2 paragraphs The Council agreed: With suggested language adjustments and text changes, the proposed updates to the remit, as set out in the paper To delegate authority to the Chief Executive to finalise and issue updated guidance to the colleges and universities consistent with the proposals in the paper. 15/43 Increasing the number of graduates with practical modern foreign language skills (SFC/15/18) The Council received a paper providing an outline of the work carried out by the Council executive to support the Scottish Government s request that SFC develop a strategy for increasing the number of graduates with practical language skills and consider the role colleges can play in this. In discussion the Council advised that the potential for language skills to enhance employability had to be recognised. The Council agreed that further discussions would take place with the sector, and a paper incorporating those discussions would be brought back to the October Council meeting. 6
15/44 SFC s Strategic Plan 2015 18 (SFC/15/19) The Council received a paper summarising the outcomes of the Council s consultation on the draft strategic plan. In discussion the Council noted the outcomes of the consultation on the draft strategic plan and advised that mention of fiscal pressures, external environment and challenges, should be added. The Council agreed to delegate authority to the Chair and Chief Executive to finalise the plan and send it to the Cabinet Secretary for approval. 15/45 Developing a ten year infrastructure strategy (SFC/15/20) The Council received a paper with a proposed framework for the development of the Scottish Funding Council s ten year infrastructure strategy. In discussion the Council noted that: This paper provided an early draftof SFC s infrastructure strategy and a fuller paperconsidering the options in different scenarioswould be presented to the October Council meeting, following further discussions with the sector Further work was required to develop criteria which can allow the Council to prioritise where it invests Where possible, using SFC funds to leverage further investment would be encouraged and collaborative proposals could be rewarded. The Council agreed that the revised and updated paper would be presented to the October Council meeting. 15/46 Delivering SFC Equality Outcomes (SFC/15/21) The Council received a paper informing of the SFC s revised Equality Outcomes and noted that the Council s executive was considering the most effective way to resource a strategy to deliver and monitor the revised equality outcomes. 7
In discussion the Council agreed to endorse the published reports, including the equality outcomes and actions. 15/47 SFC Knowledge Transfer Grant Review (SFC/15/22) The Council received a paper with the proposed strategy to use SFC investment to transform the innovation environment in Scotland and make it work. In discussion the Council noted that: A KTG Working Group from RKEC with sector representation were repurposing the Knowledge Transfer Grant (KTG) The aim was to consult widely on the proposed strategy over the summer There would be resourcing implications for the Council executive when implemented. In discussion the Council advised that: Small Specialist Institutions should be noted Opportunities for collaboration across the sector and with business and industry should be encouraged and maximised where possible Further discussion with the sector should take place before issuing of the formal consultation. The Council agreedto the: Proposed strategy as noted in the paper Initial plans to align the national priorities for the Outcome Grant programme with the Universities Scotland 5 point plan Repurposing of the KTG and a move away from the formulaic distribution of approximately 12m of the KTG. 8
15/48 Future Research Excellence Framework (REF) (SFC/15/23*) The Council received a paper on the future Research Excellence Framework. In discussion the Council noted that the Council executive would take the opportunity to influence the REF formulation to reduce the negative impact on equalities and on the academic transfer market prior to any assessment exercise and if at all possible. 15/49 SFC annual report and accounts for 2014 15 (SFC/15/24) The Council received SFC s annual report and accounts for 2014 15. The Council noted: That the external auditors had indicated that they would give an unqualified opinion on the accounts The draft Annual Report of the external auditors to the Board and the Auditor General for Scotland That the Council s financial and other control systems had operated effectively during the year That SFC s financial position is stable. The Council agreed to recommend the approval of the: Letter of representation to allow the Chief Executive to sign it Accounts to allow the Chief Executive and the Chair to sign them. 15/50 Corporate governance (SFC/15/25) The Council received a paper dealing with a range of corporate governance issues. The Council agreed: 9
To approve the creation of a role of Vice Chair of the Skills Committee and to write to the Chair of SDS to seek his agreement To approve the changes to the Standing Orders and Remits of the Remuneration and Audit and Compliance Committees, following agreed amendments To approve the adjustment in the SFC Board quorum from eight to seven members To approve the proposed improvement actions in response to the recent Board Governance evaluation 15/51 Risk Register (SFC/15/26) The Council received SFC s risk register. The paragraph iswithheld from publication on the Council website under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002, Section 30: Prejudicial to the effective conduct of public affairs [ ] x 1 paragraph 15/52 Updated scheme of delegated authority (SFC/15/27) The Council received SFC s updated scheme of delegation. The Council agreed with amendments as discussed at the meeting in relation to specific constraints to be added on guarantees, indemnities and letters of comfort, and to approve the updated scheme of delegated authority. 15/53 Use of delegated authority (SFC/15/28*) The Council received and noted the paper reporting on the use of delegated authority during the period 1 March 2014 until 31 May 2015. 10
15/54 Audit and Compliance Committee Annual Report (SFC/15/29) The Council received and noted the Audit and Compliance Committee Annual Report. The Council agreed that committee annual reports would be linked to the Strategic Development Workshop meetings where the relevant outcomes were discussed as well as being presented to the Board annually at business meetings. 15/55 Skills Committee Annual Report (SFC/15/30) The Council received and noted the Skills Committee Annual Report. 15/56 Access and Inclusion Committee minutes (SFC/15/31*) The Council received the unconfirmed minutes of the Access and Inclusion Committee meeting of 21 May 2015. 15/57 Remuneration Committee minutes (SFC/15/32*) The Council received the unconfirmed minutes of the Remuneration Committee meeting of 20 March 2015. 15/58 Research and Knowledge Exchange Committee minutes (SFC/15/33*) The Council received the unconfirmed minutes of the Research and Knowledge Exchange Committee meeting of 30 April 2015. 15/59 Skills Committee minutes (SFC/15/34*) The Council received the unconfirmed minutes of the Skills Committee meeting of 14 May 2015. The Council board agreed to the advice from the Skills Committee as follows: 11
Advice to SFC and SDS Boards Both SFC and SDS Boards should: On the SDS and SFC Skills Investment Plans Cross Cutting Themes and Next Steps for Sector Programme item: note the points raised by the Committee, in particular: SDS should consider how employer engagement can be strengthened to underpin SIP implementation and ensure ongoing industry ownership; The SIP refresh process should be designed in a way that is appropriate to the needs of each sector and is industry led, whilst taking opportunities to address synergies across sectors; The SIPs have provided a valuable framework for public sector engagement and investment, further work in implementation and refresh should aim to stimulate employer investment in workforce development, work place innovation and improved skills utilisation. On Regional Skills Assessments Review Feedback and Findings: note the summary of the discussion of the Skills Committee, in particular: Consider how the RSAs inform the outcome agreements and what impact the improved and a more consistent evidence base has on the shape of the provision regionally; SDS and SFC are advised to explore how the use of RSAs alongside other information such as SIPs and other LMI can help inform the work of broader partnerships, including community planning partnerships and the new Invest in Youth Groups. On Skills Committee Annual Report including Advice Tracker and Forward Plan: note the summary of the discussion of the Skills Committee, in particular: The Committee s interest in understanding how the advice informs the work of the respective boards of SDS and SFC more visibly and explicitly. 15/60 Next meeting: Strategic development meeting 21 August 2015 Business meeting 25 September 2015 12