The responsibilities set out below are intended to be overarching, and transcend the specific regulatory conditions of the OfS. However, increasingly, the importance of data in informing effective governance, including UEB decision-making and business intelligence and how that feeds into key Council committees, should not be underestimated. The OfS registration conditions are built on the effective provision of data, even if we might question the value of the datasets demanded of us and what outcomes they are expected to demonstrate. Council will want to ensure it receives regular, reliable, timely and accurate information to monitor and evaluate performance against the strategic plan, but it is also required to publish accurate and transparent information on academic programmes, transparency information and value for money etc.
| Primary Responsibility | How we deliver this in practice | Related OfS registration condition(s) |
|---|---|---|
| 1. To set, and agree, the mission, strategic vision and values of the institution, with the executive. | Council approves the University Vision and Strategy, and advises the Vice-Chancellor on its shaping and revision. | Condition E2: The provider must have in place adequate and effective management and governance arrangements. |
| 2. To agree long-term academic and business plans and key performance indicators and ensure that these meet the interests of stakeholders. | Council does this in a number of ways, including through the adoption of University budgets and forecasts. It will also be monitoring a new suite of KPIs stemming from the University Strategy 2030. The extent to which Council understands the academic and corporate strategies and the plans which sit underneath is key. | Condition E2: The provider must have in place adequate and effective management and governance arrangements. |
| 3. To ensure that processes are in place to monitor and evaluate the performance and effectiveness of the institution against the strategy and plans and approved key performance indicators, which should be – where possible and appropriate – benchmarked against other comparable institutions. | Council will want to ensure it receives regular, reliable, timely and accurate information to monitor and evaluate performance against the strategic plan. This is in line with the CUC HE Code of Governance. | Condition E2: The provider must have in place adequate and effective management and governance arrangements. |
| 4. To delegate authority to the head of the institution, as chief executive, for the academic, corporate, financial, estate and human resource management of the institution. And to establish and keep under regular review the policies, procedures and limits within such management functions as shall be undertaken by and under the authority of the head of the institution. | The role of the Vice-Chancellor as ‘Accountable Officer’ is understood by Council. This is set out through a range of delegated approval and signatory activities for OfS returns, and to other bodies. Further work on the Scheme of Delegation will clarify where approvals reside, where it is not as clear as it could be. | Condition E2: The provider must have in place adequate and effective management and governance arrangements. |
| 5. To ensure the establishment and monitoring of systems of control and accountability, including financial and operational controls, risk assessment, value for money arrangements and procedures for handling internal grievances and for managing conflicts of interest. | Audit and Risk Committee has delegated responsibility in this regard, culminating in its annual report to Council, the statement on internal control, risk management reporting etc. It also oversees the work of internal and external audit. Conflicts of interest are addressed at each meeting, alongside an annual return. | Condition E2: The provider must have in place adequate and effective management and governance arrangements. Public Interest Governance Principle V. Risk management: The provider operates comprehensive corporate risk management and control arrangements (including for academic risk). |