University Education Committee was established in 1994 as an overarching quality assurance committee for educational matters. It reports to Senate.
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 University'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 Framework (TEF). On behalf of Senate, the committee will oversee preparations for TEF, including approval of the TEF narrative.
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 review and comment on Key University Risks that relate to education activity and advise the risk owners on actions to minimise risk (formal responsibility and oversight for risk sits with Audit and Risk Committee).
13. To advise relevant committees, including Academic Leadership Board and 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 2024-25 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 | Mia Stevens |
| Bristol SU PG Education Officer | Gurvin Chopra |
| Executive Director for Education and Students | Paula Coonerty |
| Director of Library Services and University Librarian | Ed Fay |
| Acting Academic Registrar | Elinor Davies |
| Acting Director of Education Quality and Policy |
Mike White |
| 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 16 September 2024 | Wednesday 25 September 2024 |
| Monday 21 October 2024 | Wednesday 30 October 2024 |
| Monday 25 November 2024 | Wednesday 4 December 2024 |
| Monday 13 January 2025 | Wednesday 22 January 2025 |
| Monday 24 February 2025 | Wednesday 5 March 2025 |
| Monday 24 March 2025 | Wednesday 2 April 2025 |
| Monday 28 April 2025 | Wednesday 7 May 2025 |
| Tuesday 27 May 2025 | Wednesday 4 June 2025 |
| Paper deadlines | Meeting dates |
|---|---|
| Monday 15 September 2025 | Wednesday 24 September 2025 |
| Monday 27 October 2025 | Wednesday 5 November 2025 |
| Monday 24 November 2025 | Wednesday 3 December 2025 |
| Monday 12 January 2026 | Wednesday 21 January 2026 |
| Monday 23 February 2026 | Wednesday 4 March 2026 |
| Wednesday 1 April 2026 (due to Easter bank holidays) | Wednesday 15 April 2026 |
| Friday 1 May 2026 (due to May bank holiday) | Wednesday 13 May 2026 |
| Monday 1 June 2026 | Wednesday 10 June 2026 |
Please see the diagram demonstrating the University Education Committee reporting structure (PDF, 113kB)
Summary reports from University Education Committee are available for download (UoB only).
