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To: All University Staff
From: Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sir Howard Newby
Subject: Responses to RAE Outcomes and Proposals for Improving Performance

As you are aware, the University is looking at a range of options in the light of analysis of the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise (RAE).

Firstly, I am delighted that we are one of only four institutions in the UK that will receive an increase of more than 8% in research grant income from the Funding Council. This allocation rewards excellence across a range of areas, but especially Science, Engineering and Medicine. These extra resources will enable us to invest further in our research base – both in terms of enhancing our facilities and attracting more world-class researchers.

However, our research benchmarks are international and therefore, to ensure we continue to build on our global reputation, it is vital that our research is of an international standard, not just nationally excellent.

In order to take the University to its next stage in driving towards world-class excellence in areas where we are globally competitive, we need to undertake reviews of academic departments where performance is not of the same exceptional standard.

In addition, our Professional Services team needs to continue to focus on excellence, so that working in partnership with academic departments, the University’s strategic objectives will be achieved. To ensure this happens, a review of services and business processes will be undertaken.

The University’s Senate will this week be asked to comment on proposals from the Strategic Management Team and the Faculty Deans that, given the need to invest in excellence, provision in the three worst performing areas in the RAE - Politics and Communications Studies, Philosophy, and Statistics - should cease to exist in its current form. Decisions will be made, following consultation, in June 2009. These recommendations follow detailed analysis of the RAE results.

There is likely to be media speculation about the recommendations but I want to reassure colleagues that this is a continuation of the work many of you are engaged in with regard to delivering our Strategic Plan. If you are concerned about anything you hear regarding the proposals going to Senate, you should talk to your Head of Department in the first instance.

The University will honour all its obligations to students in any departments affected, including those entering in 2009/10. The University will honour all existing staff contracts and will only consider compulsory redundancy measures as a last resort.

The proposals before Senate will also be discussed by the University Council on March 18 and a staff webcast in which I will update colleagues on proposals and timescale will be available via our Intranet on Friday afternoon, March 20.