University Education Committee was established in 1994 as an overarching quality assurance committee for educational matters. It reports to Senate.
Since 2019/20 the Committee also acts as the Curriculum Enhancement Programme Board, which reports to the Academic Portfolio Board.
Shortcuts: Purpose | Terms of Reference | Membership | Quorum | Mode of operation and agenda setting | Meeting dates | Sub-committees | Record of business
The main purposes of University Education Committee are to:
1. To develop and articulate the University's vision for education enhancement, assurance and innovation via the University’s Education and Student Experience Strategy and maintain oversight of its delivery.
2. To make decisions on educational priorities, with the aim of enhancing the academic experience for students in line with the Education and Student Experience Strategy and the Unversity's education-related risks and Strategic Performance Indicators (SPIs).
3. To make decisions and maintain strategic oversight for education, for all programmes from foundation to doctoral levels, within the context of the Education and Student Experience Strategy. This includes:
4. To make decisions on proposals for new programmes of study (foundation, undergraduate, taught postgraduate and postgraduate research), for major modifications to existing programmes and for the suspension and withdrawal of programmes (including teaching out plans). Detailed scrutiny will be undertaken by University Academic Quality and Standards Committee.
5. To make decisions, where appropriate, on proposals for external educational partnerships, collaborative arrangements and arrangements for validation of degrees offered by other institutions. Detailed scrutiny will be undertaken by University Academic Quality and Standards Committee.
6. To ensure alignment between the vision for education (as set out in the Education and Student Experience Strategy) and faculty and divisional planning through the Integrated Planning Process (IPP).
7. To make decisions on admissions policy and criteria relating to widening participation and entry tariffs.
8. To advise Senate on high-level strategic engagement with the Teaching Excellence and Student Outcomes Framework.
9. To keep Senate updated on matters that relate to the delivery of educational strategic initiatives.
10. To advise Senate on the current debates and key areas of work in the education arena and seek input on strategic institution-level education issues.
11. To advise the Board of Trustees on University compliance with the Office for Students regulatory framework.
12. To advise relevant committees, including University Executive Board, on education priorities and initiatives, and on the infrastructure (including physical and digital environment and systems) requirements to deliver the University's vision for education.
The membership of the Committee for 2023-24 is as follows:
| Job title | Name |
|---|---|
| Pro Vice-Chancellor (Education and Students) [Chair] | Professor Tansy Jessop |
| Associate Pro Vice-Chancellor (Learning and Teaching) | Dr Mark Allinson |
| Associate Pro Vice-Chancellor (PGR) | Professor Harry Mellor |
| Associate Pro Vice-Chancellor (Innovation and Enhancement) | Professor Alvin Birdi |
| Associate Pro Vice-Chancellor (Education Quality and Standards) | Professor Kate Whittington |
| Faculty Education Director (representing UG) | Dr James Freeman |
| Faculty Education Director (representing PGT) | Professor Astrid Linthorst |
| Bristol SU UG Education Officer | Nicole Antoine |
| Bristol SU PG Education Officer | Timber Hill |
| Executive Director for Education and Students | Paula Coonerty |
| Director of Library Services and University Librarian | Ed Fay |
| Academic Registrar | Jen Morgan |
| Director of Education Quality and Policy [Committee Adviser] |
Elinor Davies |
| Director of Education Innovation |
Sarah Davies |
| Vice-Chancellor | Professor Evelyn Welch |
Standing invitations are issued to:
The Chair or nominee and at least five other members of the Committee.
The Committee will normally meet eight times a year. Chair's powers may be used between meetings of the Committee to address urgent and / or confidential matters (any action undertaken through Chair's powers will be reported to the next meeting of the Committee).
Please contact the Secretary (Kathryn Maycock) if you wish to discuss adding an item to the agenda for University Education Committee. The paper deadlines for University Education Committee are listed as part of the meeting dates however items for the agenda must be raised with the Secretary at least 3 weeks before the meeting date so that the agenda can be finalised at a pre-meeting with the Chair.
| Paper deadlines | Meeting dates |
|---|---|
| Monday 18 September 2023 | Wednesday 27 September 2023 |
| Monday 23 October 2023 | Tuesday 31 October 2023 |
| Monday 20 November 2023 | Wednesday 29 November 2023 |
| Monday 8 January 2024 | Wednesday 17 January 2024 |
| Monday 26 February 2024 | Wednesday 6 March 2024 |
| Monday 15 April 2024 | Wednesday 24 April 2024 |
| Tuesday 7 May 2024 | Wednesday 15 May 2024 |
| Monday 10 June 2024 | Wednesday 19 June 2024 |
Please see the diagram demonstrating the University Education Committee reporting structure (PDF, 100kB)
Summary reports from University Education Committee are available for download (UoB only).
