Background information FOR CANDIDATES/PROSPECTIVE MEMBERS OF COUNCIL committees
Our Vision
“Challenging, inspiring and supporting students to grow as individuals and to be responsible citizens and leaders in a complex world”
Background information on the University
The University of Roehampton*is a friendly, modern, lively community of over9,000 students and 900 staff set in a beautiful and historic 54-acre parkland campus in southwest London, close to Richmond Park.The University has a proud and distinctive educational history dating back to the 1840s. Roehampton obtaineduniversity title in August 2004.The University has a £75m turnover and an ambitious campus development programme
The University is proud of the quality of its teaching and research, of its facilities and of the achievements of its students. It is at an exciting stage in its development and is building on these strengths as it becomes a distinctive and successful university.
The University has developed a clear vision of its future focused on challenging, inspiring and supporting students to grow as individuals and to be responsible citizens and leaders in a complex world. We are driven by an ambitious academic strategy, aimed at consolidating a reputation for excellence in teaching and research, providing a first-rate experience for students and staff and establishing a robust organisational infrastructure.
Roehampton is a collegiate university with four Colleges, each with a distinctive ethos and tradition. Three colleges have religious foundations: Digby Stuart -Catholic; Southlands – Methodist; Whitelands – Anglican; and Froebel College is founded on the principles of the pioneering German educationalist, Friedrich Froebel.
One of Roehampton’s assets is its location – near enough to enjoy the city but far enough away to escape from it. Its campus is situated on two attractive parkland sites six miles from central London, and very close to Wimbledon, Putney and RichmondPark.
The University has a growing reputation for excellence in its ten academic departments: Business School, Dance, Drama, School of Education, English & Creative Writing, Humanities, Life Sciences, Media, Culture & Languages and Social Sciences. Each department is led by a Head of Department, who reports to a Deputy Provost, who in turn reports to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor.
*The University changed its trading name to the University of Roehampton in 2011 but is still
legally registered as Roehampton University.
The University received a positive ‘Confidence’ report (the highest possible) as a result of its latest QAA (Quality Assurance Agency) Institutional Audit. Its support for students and the richness of the student experience were highlighted as features of good practice.
Research
Each of the Departments has a growing research profile. The University’s results in the latest (2008) Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) were outstanding: over a third of academic staff at Roehampton is now rated as internationally excellent or world class (3* or 4*) and 74% of our research activity is regarded as being of international standing (2* and above). Over 90% of our submissions are ranked first or second among London post-92 Universities.
Our performance in three areas is worthy of note: we are rated second in the UK for Dance, fourth in the UK for Anthropology (beating Oxford University and University College London) and within the top 20 for Drama. We also performed well nationally in Education; Communication, Culture and Media Studies; Theology; and Sociology.
Strategic Developments
The University has an ambitious strategic plan focused on repositioning the University in the market, driving up non-regulated income and reducing the overall cost base, delivering high quality student learning and enhancing student employability and improving the student and staff experience.
Recent highlights and successes include:
- Strong performance in overseas recruitment
- Sustainable undergraduate recruitment in the new tuition fees regime
- Increased tariff entry scores and degree results
- New online postgraduate programmes in partnership with Laureate Education Inc
- Named as the Best Modern University in London in the major 2016 University guides
Senior Appointments
Professor Paul O’Prey took up the post of Vice-Chancellor inSeptember 2004 and was reappointed in 2009. The Vice-Chancellor is supported by a Deputy Vice-Chancellor, a Pro Vice-Chancellor and the Registrar & University Secretary.
The Role of Council and Council and Committee Members
The Council is the governing body of the University and carries responsibility for ensuring the effective management of the University and planning its future development. It has responsibility for the overall educational character and mission of the University and has ultimate responsibility for the affairs of the University.
The Council is entrusted with funds, both public and private, and therefore has a particular duty to observe the highest standards of corporate governance.
The Council also has a duty to enable the University to achieve and develop its primary objectives of teaching and research. It monitors the performance of the University against its Strategic Plan and targets and is responsible for the solvency of the University and safeguarding its assets.
Council and Committee members act in a voluntary capacity and as individuals rather than representatives of any group or interest. They also have to take appropriate steps to avoid putting themselves in a situation where there is an actual or potential conflict of interest. Members are asked each year to make a formal declaration of interest statement, which is held by the Clerk and available for inspection on request.
University of Roehampton Council
The current Chair of Council is Sir David Bell, a non-executive director of the Economist and an ex-Director of Pearson plc and Chairman of the Financial Times.
The University is an incorporated body as a company limited by guarantee. The business of the Council is conducted in accordance with its Memorandum & Articles of Association (approved by the Privy Council) and the University Regulations and is regulated by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE)
The Role and Business of the Audit Committee
The University seeks to appoint members of Council Committees who are enthusiastic about the University’s mission and whose background and skills complement those of existing members of Council. Members are expected to engage actively in their governance role and to act as ambassadors for the University. Committee Members are also selected on the basis of their ability to understand and question constructively Roehampton’s strategy and policies.
The Audit Committeeoversees an ongoing programme for reviewing the effectiveness of the University's system of internalcontrol, risk management and Value for Money. The Committee is responsible for meeting with the internal and external auditors to review and discusstheir reports and recommendations. Committee members also receive and consider reports to/from HEFCE and monitor adherence to relevant regulatory requirements.
Membership of a Council committee provides the opportunity for members to extend their professional experience with and to develop knowledge of the University and the Higher Education sector.
Audit Committee Membership and Meetings
The Chair of the Committee is Noel Flannery, Director of Finance & Resources at Safer London, with extensive experience as a director and trustee in the voluntary and charity sector.
The Committee meets four times a year although there may be a requirement for additional meetings from time to time.
The Committee is now looking for two experienced professionals to join the Committee as external members.
There is also an annual Council Away Day for Council and Committee members to focus on major strategic items. Dates of the committee meetings and the Away Day are agreed well in advance to allow members to plan their diaries.
Core Values of Higher Education (extract from the CUC (Committee of University Chairmen), Higher Education (HE) Code of Governance, December 2014)
High-quality HE which commands public confidence and protects the reputation of the UK system rests on a number of shared values. A failure to adopt andimplement agreed values in the practice of governance has implications beyond the institution concerned, by potentially undermining the collective reputation of UK HEIs. Good governance isat the heart ofthe HEsectorintheUK,andwillcontinue tobeofthe highestimportance as itcontinues
Key University Documents
The following documents are provided for further information:
• Latest Annual Report and Accounts (2014/15)
• Roehampton 2025: Long Term Strategic Goals
• Terms of Reference of the AuditCommittee
• Council Statement of Responsibilities & Council Code of Conduct
Further Information
Further information on the University, including its governance and management, can be found on the following weblink
or on request by email to:
University Secretariat
August 2016
Audit Committee Candidate Info Pack161 of 4