STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL
DUAL ASSURANCE UPDATE MEETING
INTERNATIONALISATION
26 February 2014, 12:30-14:00
Notes of Meeting
Attendees:
John Allwood
Neil Armstrong
Shaun Curtis
JA had been sent a comprehensive (19-page) summary of internationalisation activity covering October-February ahead of the Dual Assurance meeting. The document served as the informal agenda for discussions. NA asked JA for his opinion on the forthcoming ‘without prejudice’ meeting with INTO University Partnerships, which would take place soon after the February Council meeting. JA advised that Council would wish to know the full implications of any potential irreconcilable differences, including worse case scenarios. NA pointed out that the University had employed external legal advisors to meet with University staff attending the meeting to advise on key issues. Although the University would continue to act in the best interests of the joint venture, JA said that the University should maintain its tough line on quality over quantity for that is the only way to safeguard such interests. The joint venture is still profitable and the business should be operated on a long term basis, and not get distracted by the possibility of shareholders wishing to float the business in the short term. JA also enquired as to the property agreements, and the obligations conferred on the University. NA responded that the University’s external legal advisers were investigating this.
JA noted the 2013/14 international enrolment data and commented on the fact that the majority of international students were now studying programmes outside of the Business School. SC pointed out the slight dip in overall enrolments (down 100 from 3,901 to 3,800) was the result of higher entry standards and the desire of the Business School to limit growth in its international population. JA enquired as to the performance of Engineering and Medicine and whether there was potential for greater growth in these areas. SC confirmed this was the case, pointing out that EUMS had now appointed a recruitment officer, who works very closely with the International Office, and who is focussing on recruiting to medicine-related programmes. JA also supported the University’s stance on rationalising the number of foundation providers it recognised (following a QAA letter in September 2013 enquiring about Exeter’s ‘relationship’ with the Middlesex College of Law). A small number of universities had taken offence at being told by Exeter that their foundation programmes would not be recognised, but JA agreed with SC’s argument that it was impossible to review the curricula of so many providers, or monitor how they were promoting their relationship with Exeter – less is certainly more
SC 28 February 2014
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