Notices

Calendar

17 April, Wednesday. Easter Term begins.

23 April, Tuesday. Full Term begins. Mere’s Commemoration Sermon in St Benedict’s Church at 11.45 a.m. Preacher, Dr Ruth Jackson Ravenscroft, Bye-Fellow, Tutor and Director of Studies of Sidney Sussex College, Bye-Fellow and Director of Studies of Lucy Cavendish College, member and Director of Studies of Corpus Christi College, Foundation Year Teaching Associate and Affiliated Lecturer in the Faculty of Divinity.

27 April, Saturday. Congregation of the Regent House at 10 a.m.

30 April, Tuesday. Discussion by videoconference at 2 p.m. (see below).

4 May, Saturday. End of first quarter of Easter Term.

Discussion on Tuesday, 30 April 2024

The Vice‑Chancellor invites members of the Regent House, University and College employees, registered students and others qualified under the regulations for Discussions (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 111) to attend a Discussion by videoconference on Tuesday, 30 April 2024 at 2 p.m. The following item will be discussed:

1. Topic of concern to the University: Change to the Pro‑Vice‑Chancellorships (see p. 470).

Those wishing to join the Discussion by videoconference should email UniversityDraftsman@admin.cam.ac.uk from their University email account, providing their CRSid (if a member of the collegiate University), by 10 a.m. on the date of the Discussion to receive joining instructions. Alternatively contributors may email their remarks to contact@proctors.cam.ac.uk, copying ReporterEditor@admin.cam.ac.uk, by no later than 10 a.m. on the day of the Discussion for reading out by the Proctors,1 or may ask someone else who is attending to read the remarks on their behalf.

In accordance with the regulations for Discussions, the Chair of the Board of Scrutiny or any ten members of the Regent House2 may request that the Council arrange for one or more of the items listed for discussion to be discussed in person (usually in the Senate-House). Requests should be made to the Registrary, on paper or by email to UniversityDraftsman@admin.cam.ac.uk from addresses within the cam.ac.uk domain, by no later than 9 a.m. on the day of the Discussion. Any changes to the Discussion schedule will be confirmed in the Reporter at the earliest opportunity.

General information on Discussions is provided on the University Governance site at https://www.governance.cam.ac.uk/governance/decision-making/discussions/.

Sir Robert Rede’s Lecture

The Vice-Chancellor gives notice that the 2024 Rede Lecture to be given by Professor Dame Mary Beard, DBE, FSA, FBA, Fellow of Newnham College and Professor of Classics Emerita, will be entitled ‘The boy who breathed on the glass at the British Museum’: What, or whom, is the past for?

The lecture will be given on Friday, 3 May 2024 at 5.30 p.m. in the West Road Concert Hall. It will be open to members of the University community (staff, students and alumni) and others who are interested. Those wishing to attend are asked to register for a free ticket at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/872652907337.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor appointed

15 April 2024

The Vice-Chancellor gives notice that she has appointed, in accordance with Statute C III 7(a), Dr Diarmuid O’Brien, EM, Pro-Vice-Chancellor, as a Deputy Vice‑Chancellor for the remainder of the 2023–24 academic year.

Office of Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research)1

The Council wishes to make an appointment to the office of Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research) following Professor Anne Ferguson-Smith’s appointment as Chief Executive Officer of the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC). This is an exciting opportunity to play a critical role in ensuring that the University of Cambridge maintains its international reputation for research excellence by growing its research income and further enhancing its strong and supportive research culture.

The office of Pro-Vice-Chancellor is held for three years in the first instance.2 The person appointed to the office of Pro‑Vice‑Chancellor (Research) will be expected to take up the position on 1 July 2024, or as soon as possible thereafter.

The remit

The Council wishes to appoint a Pro-Vice-Chancellor to provide senior academic leadership on matters relating to the University’s research activities, with an emphasis on further strengthening its research profile and impact, including by growing its research income. The Pro‑Vice-Chancellor (Research) will lead the development and implementation of strategy and policy relating to research. As part of that effort, building on the foundations laid by Professor Ferguson‑Smith, the officeholder will be responsible for sustaining and enhancing a supportive research culture which allows the University to continue to flourish as an outstanding research‑intensive University with global influence. A further feature of the role will be developing large‑scale cross‑School and collaborative initiatives, for example to take a synergistic approach to tackling global challenges to increase the impact of Cambridge’s research on society. The officeholder will also play a central role in the continued enhancement of the University’s research services, including the delivery of the Transforming Research Support Programme (TRS) and its alignment with other large scale change programmes.

The officeholder will be responsible for the University’s submission to the next Research Excellence Framework exercise (REF2029). This is a major multi‑year project which involves extensive preparation, planning and liaison with the University’s Schools, Departments and Faculties as well as its collections and the Colleges. Success in REF2029 is vital to maintaining the University’s standing as a leading UK research‑intensive university. The Pro‑Vice‑Chancellor (Research) will also be responsible for further developing the University’s relationships with research funding councils, government bodies and strategic partners from industry and the charity sector. The individual will continue to ensure that the University is an integral part of, and important contributor to, higher education alliances nationally and internationally.

The officeholder will chair the Research Policy Committee and attend a number of other senior committees including the General Board and the Council. The individual will be the academic lead for, and will be supported by, the Research Office and, for other parts of their role, will be the academic co‑lead, together with the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Innovation), for the Strategic Partnership Office.

Attributes and experience

The successful candidate will be internationally recognised for their sustained track record of outstanding research and as leader of an academic community (for example as a head of a department, faculty, research institute or reasonably‑sized research group). They will have significant experience working at senior levels with external bodies such as research funding councils, partners from industry, the charity sector and/or with governmental bodies; and they will have broad experience of the international research landscape, for instance through collaborations with overseas research partners.

The individual appointed to the office will have a good overall awareness of, and affinity with, the range of research activities across the collegiate University, and will have an understanding of the differences in culture and conditions for success across the spectrum. They will lead through persuasion and influence and will thrive when working across a number of different areas with a wide variety of colleagues. The officeholder will be a fluent communicator, able to promote compellingly the value and impact of research at Cambridge to a range of audiences.

The successful candidate will be recognised as an individual who is able to lead and inspire staff engaged in research at all levels. They will demonstrate clarity of thought and an openness to contrasting views and will have the ability to bring together people from across different academic and professional services backgrounds. The individual appointed to the office will also have a deep interest in the international higher education research landscape.

The University of Cambridge is committed to a pro‑active and inclusive approach to equality, which supports and encourages all under-represented groups, promotes an inclusive culture, and values diversity. The University is particularly focused on increasing diversity among staff on higher grades and especially encourages women and candidates from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic backgrounds to apply for this vacancy.

Role of the Pro-Vice-Chancellors

Reporting to the Council through the Vice‑Chancellor, the Pro-Vice-Chancellors provide academic leadership to the University to ensure that the University maintains and enhances its contribution to society and its global academic standing. They support the Vice‑Chancellor in the delivery of her objectives, and work as a team with the Heads of Schools, the Registrary, the Chief Financial Officer, the Executive Director of Development and Alumni Relations, the Director of Communications and other senior colleagues.

In addition to the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research and International Partnerships), the University currently has four Pro‑Vice‑Chancellors with the following portfolios:3

•Professor David Cardwell (Strategy and Planning)

•Professor Kamal Munir (University Community and Engagement)

•Dr Diarmuid O’Brien (Innovation)

•Professor Bhaskar Vira (Education)

Terms of appointment

The Pro-Vice-Chancellor will be appointed at no less than 80% FTE.

The formula for determining the stipend for the office of Pro-Vice-Chancellor is set out in the Ordinance for the Office of Pro-Vice-Chancellor.4 In recent years the full-time salary for Pro-Vice-Chancellors has normally been within the range of £160,000–£185,000.

The Council expects to make the appointment in the Easter Term. The Council will be advised by a Nominating Committee chaired by the Vice-Chancellor.

Expressions of interest and further information

The Nominating Committee welcomes expressions of interest from individuals and nominations of potential candidates for consideration by the Committee. The position is open to external and internal candidates.

Saxton Bampfylde Ltd is acting as an employment agency advisor for this appointment. For further information about the role, including details about how to apply, please visit https://www.saxbam.com/appointments using reference WABSI. Alternatively telephone +44 (0)20 7227 0880 (during office hours). Applications should be received by 12 noon on Thursday, 25 April 2024.

Office of Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Resources and Operations)1

The Council wishes to make an appointment to the office of Pro-Vice-Chancellor following the end of Professor Cardwell’s second term as Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Strategy and Planning). The Council has agreed that, reflecting the different calls on the University’s resources and the consequential need for a greater focus on prioritisation and operational effectiveness, the portfolio should be repositioned as ‘Resources and Operations’.

This is a key strategic moment for the University. There are a number of transformation programmes under way, the purpose of which is to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the University’s operations. The digital and IT landscape is being modernised and harmonised. Lastly, the processes of academic and financial planning are being renewed with a continued focus on financial sustainability. By combining these activities into one portfolio, the Council aims to achieve an integrated approach to its professional services to better support the University’s academic mission.

The office of Pro-Vice-Chancellor is held for three years in the first instance.2 The person appointed to the office of Pro‑Vice‑Chancellor (Resources and Operations) will be expected to take up the position on 1 August 2024, or as soon as possible thereafter.

The remit

The Pro‑Vice‑Chancellor (Resources and Operations) will provide leadership across four principal areas: the prioritisation, distribution and use of resources across the University to optimise operational effectiveness; integration of academic planning with resource planning; and oversight of both the University’s change programmes and the University’s IT and digital capability.3 This is an exciting opportunity for an individual who wishes to be a visible leader across the collegiate University in areas which are fundamental to the University’s continued success. The individual will play a key role in shaping the direction of the University over the next few years, in particular, by ensuring that it is financially sustainable and that its operations and infrastructure provide the most appropriate support to one of the world’s best academic institutions.

Although the portfolio is expansive, the officeholder will be expected to lead activity principally at a strategic level. Support (strategic and operational) will be primarily provided by the Finance Division; the Estates Division; the Change and Programme Management Office; the University Information Services; and the Health, Safety and Regulated Facilities Division.

The Pro-Vice-Chancellor will be responsible for ensuring that the University’s resources are deployed to best effect in support of the University’s academic endeavour. This will include developing and implementing a robust approach to prioritisation of resource across all areas of the University’s activities, which in turn will inform the distribution of financial resources. This work will be done in partnership with the Chief Financial Officer who is focused on strengthening the University’s financial resilience, including by growing its investment capacity. Together, the Pro‑Vice‑Chancellor and the Chief Financial Officer will lead the work to ensure that the University is able to support and invest in its people, its academic activity and its physical infrastructure now and into the future.

More specifically, the successful candidate will continue the work of Professor Cardwell to develop the University’s planning and budgeting process so that it is priority‑led. This strand of activity will include the successful delivery of the Enhanced Financial Transparency Programme, as a result of which financial monitoring and accountability across the institution will be considerably improved.

In addition, the officeholder will provide the academic leadership for the following areas and the related professional services teams:

•all estates-related activity, including the development of the University’s first masterplan across the entirety of its estate; the successful delivery of the Reshaping our Estate programme, the objective of which is to create an estate that is ‘more efficient, more effective, more sustainable, and fit‑for‑purpose’; and, working with the Property Board, the planning and delivery of the next phases of development in Eddington;

•the University’s ambitious transformation programmes. The individual will ensure that these programmes are properly aligned, sequenced and resourced such that they are successfully implemented and deliver on their goals. More broadly, the individual will champion these change programmes across the University, helping the community to prepare for the cultural and operational changes that are a core part of these transformation programmes. The officeholder will also advise on the evolution of these programmes and the development of potential future programmes, to ensure that the University’s professional services are able to provide contemporary and fit‑for‑purpose support to the academic endeavour; and

•the University’s IT and digital landscape, including: ensuring that the University has the right capabilities and capacity to continue the transition to a more digitally‑enhanced future; accelerating the defragmentation of IT infrastructure; and mitigating the major risks in this area such as cyber security.

The officeholder will chair a number of committees, which may include the Finance Committee, the Resource Management Committee, the Estates Committee, the Change and Programme Management Board, the Information Services Committee, and the Health and Safety Executive Committee. The individual will also attend the Planning and Resources Committee, the General Board and the Council.

Attributes and experience

The successful candidate will have a record of high achievement as a leader of an academic community (for example in a large department, faculty or research institute), within Cambridge or in another leading higher education institution. They will also have substantial experience of prioritisation, resource allocation, financial planning and, preferably, some experience of managing change and at least an interest in digital technologies.

The individual will have a proven ability to lead discussions about, and reach conclusions on, complex and potentially contentious topics, including those relating to funding, resources and prioritisation. The successful candidate will have a thorough understanding of financial management and be able to deliver results in an environment where authority is derived from influence and persuasion. The individual will be a fluent communicator, will have the ability to engage effectively with diverse groups across the collegiate University and will be willing to have difficult conversations on, and lead constructive debates about, topics about which colleagues feel passionately. They will be thoughtful, considerate, committed and resilient.

The University of Cambridge is committed to a pro‑active and inclusive approach to equality, which supports and encourages all under‑represented groups, promotes an inclusive culture, and values diversity. The University is particularly focused on increasing diversity among staff on higher grades and especially encourages women and candidates from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic backgrounds to apply for this vacancy.

Role of the Pro-Vice-Chancellors

Reporting to the Council through the Vice‑Chancellor, the Pro-Vice-Chancellors provide academic leadership to the University to ensure that the University maintains and enhances its contribution to society and its global academic standing. They support the Vice‑Chancellor in the delivery of her objectives, and work as a team with the Heads of Schools, the Registrary, the Chief Financial Officer, the Executive Director of Development and Alumni Relations, the Director of Communications and other senior colleagues.

In addition to the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Strategy and Planning), the University currently has four Pro‑Vice‑Chancellors with the following portfolios:4

•Professor Anne Ferguson-Smith (Research and International Partnerships)

•Professor Kamal Munir (University Community and Engagement)

•Dr Diarmuid O’Brien (Innovation)

•Professor Bhaskar Vira (Education)

Terms of appointment

The Pro-Vice-Chancellor will be appointed at no less than 80% FTE.

The formula for determining the stipend for the office of Pro-Vice-Chancellor is set out in the Ordinance for the Office of Pro-Vice-Chancellor.5 In recent years the full-time salary for Pro-Vice-Chancellors has normally been within the range of £160,000–£185,000.

The Council expects to make the appointment in the Easter Term. The Council will be advised by a Nominating Committee chaired by the Vice-Chancellor.

Expressions of interest and further information

The Nominating Committee welcomes expressions of interest from individuals and nominations of potential candidates for consideration by the Committee. The position is open to external and internal candidates.

Saxton Bampfylde Ltd is acting as an employment agency advisor for this appointment. For further information about the role, including details about how to apply, please visit https://www.saxbam.com/appointments using reference WABSI. Alternatively telephone +44 (0)20 7227 0880 (during office hours). Applications should be received by 12 noon on Thursday, 25 April 2024.

Topic of concern to the University: Change to the Pro-Vice-Chancellorships

16 April 2024

The Registrary gives notice that she has received the following request for the discussion of a Topic of concern to the University:

The Council has made the decision to open recruitment of Pro‑Vice‑Chancellors to ‘external candidates’ in order ‘to diversify expertise within the Senior Leadership Team’ (Minutes of its meeting on 24 January).^[1^]

Two Pro‑Vice‑Chancellorships were advertised in a Reporter Advance Notice on 28 March.^[2^] The next Reporter appears only on 17 April to put the proposal on the record. Meanwhile Saxton Bampfylde has been appointed as an ‘employment agency’ to advertise the posts, with a closing date of 23 April.

The vacant Pro‑Vice‑Chancellorships are respectively for ‘Research’ and ‘Resources and Operations’. The Pro‑Vice‑Chancellor for Research, a change from ‘Research and International Partnerships’ is among other things to ‘grow research income’. The Pro‑Vice‑Chancellor for Resources and Operations replaces the Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Strategy and Planning, and is, among other things, to ‘integrate academic planning with resource planning’.

The Council’s Minute records that it chose options which could be taken forward without changing ‘the terms and conditions of appointment, as set out in Statutes and Ordinances’. The undersigned call for a Discussion to be held before the proposed appointments are made without these changes being approved by the Regent House.

This request is supported by the 50 members of the Regent House listed in Annex A.

The Council has agreed that this topic will be included on the agenda of the Discussion on Tuesday, 30 April 2024 at 2 p.m. by videoconference (see p. 466).

Annex A

Office of Pro-Vice-Chancellor: Council response to the Topic of concern

17 April 2024

The Council has received a request for the discussion of a Topic of concern on changes to the Pro‑Vice‑Chancellorships (p. 470 above), to which it wishes to respond. The request indicates that it has been prompted by the recent advertising of two vacancies in the office (p. 467 and p. 468). The request draws attention to two matters, the encouragement of external as well as internal candidates, and the revised portfolios of the advertised positions.

The Council discussed recruitment to these vacancies in January 2024. It noted the evolution of the Pro‑Vice‑Chancellorships since they were first established on the recommendation of the Wass Syndicate. It also noted the provisions in Statutes and Ordinances governing the office. These state that the Council makes appointments to the offices after consulting with the General Board and on the recommendation of a Nominating Committee constituted in Ordinance, and that a Pro‑Vice‑Chancellor performs the duties prescribed by Statute or Ordinance and other duties as determined by the Council or the Vice‑Chancellor.1

Discussion about whether to advertise these particular vacancies externally had been prompted by Council members previously raising whether these positions could and should be open to external applicants (the Council has previously advertised a vacancy in the office, in 2018, as open to externals2). At its meeting in January, the Council supported opening recruitment to external candidates in order to facilitate the widest and strongest field. It also agreed to update the descriptions of the portfolios to better meet the current needs of the University and reallocate some aspects to provide better balance between portfolios.

The Council can confirm that the primary aim of the selection process is unchanged, which is to identify the best candidate for the role, whether they are internal or external. In other words, there is no assumption that the appointments will necessarily be external. The terms and conditions of appointment are also unchanged, and are in line with the Statutes and Ordinances. Finally, the Council routinely reviews portfolios in the event of a vacancy in these offices. The main focus of each vacant office remains the same, with one ensuring that the University maintains its international reputation for research excellence, and the other centring on the most effective use of the University’s resources at a strategic level.

Changes to Human Resources policies

New and amended legislation has been introduced from 6 April 2024 to widen access to flexible working, introduce a new leave entitlement for carers, extend existing redundancy protections, and change the way paternity leave is booked and taken. As a result, the Council and the General Board have approved a number of changes to University policies and procedures. For further information see: https://www.hr.admin.cam.ac.uk/news/hr-policies-effective-6-april-2024.

Environmental Sustainability Report, 2022–23

The Environmental Sustainability Report for 2022–23 is now available, providing details of successes in sustainability, lessons learned and plans for the forthcoming year. The report and further details, including video highlights, are available at https://www.environment.admin.cam.ac.uk/Annual-Report.

Equality and pay reporting, 2022–23

The 2022–23 Equality and Diversity Information Report is now available on the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion website at https://www.equality.admin.cam.ac.uk/equality-reports and on the Reporter website at https://www.admin.cam.ac.uk/reporter/2023-24/weekly/6736/EDI-Report-2023.pdf. The Report provides a summary of activities and initiatives in support of the University’s Equality and Diversity priorities and presents an overview of equality information on the University’s staff and student communities. The report also incorporates the following:

•The mandatory Gender Pay Gap Report 2023, published in accordance with the provisions of the Equality Act 2010 (Specific Duties and Public Authorities) Regulations 2017. Figures can also be viewed on the government’s gender pay gap viewing service at https://gender-pay-gap.service.gov.uk/viewing.

•The Equal Pay Review 2023, and the Staff Statistical Information Report 2023, both of which are published in line with commitments made to the Regent House, arising from the Second Joint Report of the Council and the General Board on new pay and grading arrangements for non-clinical staff (Reporter: 6002, 2004–05, p. 745 and 6012, 2005–06, p. 56)