In the Easter Term 2004 the Council and the General Board agreed to establish two Working Parties; one (chaired by Dr K. B. Pretty (Pro-Vice-Chancellor with Special Responsibilities)) on International Academic Relations; and a second (chaired by Professor M. C. McKendrick (Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Education)) on International Student Recruitment, Selection, and Support. The reports from the two Working Parties were received by the General Board on 8 March and by the Council on 20 March; the Council considered the reports in further detail at their meeting of 24 April 2006. The Council and the General Board believe that the Working Parties' reports, earlier drafts of which were circulated for comment by Faculties, Departments, Colleges, and other bodies, will be of interest in the University and therefore publish them.
The Council and the General Board have approved an Action Plan in connection with the recommendations contained in the two reports. They have agreed that certain recommendations require further, detailed consideration by other bodies: in particular, the recommendations relating to graduate student funding arrangements in the report on International Student Recruitment, Selection, and Support have been referred to a Working Group, established by the General Board, to review the University's arrangements for Graduate Education. The Council and the General Board note that a number of the recommendations in both reports have significant resource implications: they have agreed that bids for resources arising from any of the recommendations should be considered through the normal channels.