1. Welcome Staff Open meeting
May 2009
Caroline Gipps
Vice-Chancellor

2. Contents Back with renewed heart Challenging times
The new Wolverhampton UG curriculum
2009 graduates
Successes

3. Challenging times for universities
Good settlement for the sector for 09/10 but…
No growth via additional student numbers in 2009/10
Cap on full-time undergraduate recruitment in 2009
Sector to identify £180m of savings in 10/11 (£65m in 09/10) and uncertain impact of recession on international recruitment
LSC and AWM capital funds drying up
UCU Ballot on industrial action

4. Challenging times for us
Outcome of HESES audit still unknown - £1m p.a. reduction in recurrent grant so far
Cost base increasing from last year’s pay award
Aiming to present balanced budget to Governors for 2009/10 – has required significant savings across University and ongoing freeze on vacancies
Finances will be difficult
University’s role even more important during difficult economic times

5. How we have been responding
Establish a CPPD company by October 2008 (i-CD)
Centralising support for e-learning and curriculum development – blended learning unit
Centralised framework for FD development and ‘employer engagement’
ICD – Intelligent Career Development
Blended learning Unit has been established, and is closely working within ILE
Employer engagement has been developed to reflect regional and national priorities to maximise the Science Park facilities.
Growth of courses in partner colleges.
Reform UG curriculum – unanimous support from Academic Board on 11th May for new 20 credit framework from and new portfolio

6. Refocusing the UG Curriculum
Key drivers:
Rebalancing academic workloads to free up resources for new developments – CPD, knowledge transfer, research
Greater consistency of student experience
Modernising the curriculum
Help recruitment, retention and progression
Blended learning
Sharing resources at course level & cross-School
A distinctive UW graduate

7. Timetable – schools to report by July 2009
Proposed course titles and structures
Identification of resources released for other activities
Move to 20 credit structure by September 2010

8. New HEFCE funding methodology
From our funding will be based on student completion at module level
‘Completion’ means submission of final piece of assessment
No final piece of assessment = no funding

9. What will success look like for the curriculum project?
Successful student recruitment and increased applications
Improved retention and progression
Improved results, including degree classifications
Improved student satisfaction (NSS)
Improved graduate employment prospects and satisfied employers
Improved staff satisfaction

10. Jobs for our 2009 graduates
Unemployment among 2008 graduates increased slightly (2006: 7.0%; 2007: 5.8%; 2008: 6.7%) but was still better than 2006
Careers & Employment Services 2009 campaign If you want good careers advice, see a good careers advisor
New national and regional schemes: SPEED (£2.6m programme led by UW), Graduate Advantage (West Midlands scheme), Internships (national scheme)
Opportunity to promote postgraduate study
Nationally, The Governments Internship Program is promoted to our graduates and they are encouraged to become actively involved and apply for opportunities.
Regionally, The University of Wolverhampton are actively involved in working to increase internship and placement opportunities for students:
        The University of Wolverhampton currently lead on an AWM funded enterprise project, SPEED.         The University is actively involved in the AWM funded Graduate Advantage Project that has already begun to assist our students into placements and internships within the region.

11. Key successes QAA Institutional Audit outcome RAE 2008 outcome
Increased research income
Have given Governors confidence to support withdrawal from league tables.
RAE: £1.9m the highest of any new University in West Midlands
scores include: all 11 UoA achieved ‘international excellence’ and 8 UoA achieved ‘world leading’
QAA: we retained our outcome of ‘confidence’ with 7 areas of good practice for e.g; partnership with student union

12. Key successes International recruitment in semester two
BAFTA nominees became BAFTA winners!
Times Higher nomination for Learning and Information Services
WLV Dialogue nominated for CIPR award
New undergraduate scholarships scheme for students in partner schools and colleges
Wolves promoted………
More than 300 new international students joined the University in Semester 2, and we have exceeded our international targets for
BAFTA note: Students form SCIT entered a national competition called Dare to be Digital, run by Channel 4. On 10th March they were awarded BAFTA ‘One to Watch award at the
British Academy Game Awards
CIPR: Chartered Institute of Public Relations

13. Thank you & questions?