Month: October 2012

Annual Review of Freedom of Information and Data Protection Policy and Procedure

The Management Board received a report of the work of the Central Secretariat and the College Records and Archives Unit to meet the College’s obligations under the Freedom of Information Act and the Data Protection Act.

The report highlighted the rise in the number and complexity of Freedom of Information requests (184 in 2011 and 139 in 2012 to date) and noted that all responses to requests met the 20 day deadline. Most requests are met in full, but exemptions are applied when appropriate.

To read the College’s Policies and Procedures in relation to the Acts, visit:

Data Protection
Freedom of Information

Honorary titles for distinguished clinicians

The Management Board considered a paper outlining options for conferring titles on NHS consultants who do not meet the academic requirements for the title of Professor or Reader, but whose significant contribution the College wishes to recognise. The Board agreed that these individuals could be given the honorary title of Adjunct Professor or Adjunct Reader as appropriate. This title is already in use in the College to recognise eminent business leaders who act in a teaching capacity. The same process for awarding the title will be used, with applications from Heads of Department and endorsed by the relevant Faculty Principal considered by an Adjunct Appointments Panel led by the Deputy Rector. Titles will be awarded for five years.

Funding the Academic Health Science Centre Office

The Management Board approved a proposal that the anticipated costs for the next stage of the Academic Health Science Centre (AHSC) delivery programme be equally split between the College and the Imperial College Healthcare Trust. The budget is required to fund a small central AHSC Office, and the delivery of a core programme of administration and events.

New President’s PhD Scholarship Scheme and changes to allocation of Rector’s Scholarships

The Management Board considered a paper which summarised the recommendations of the newly-formed Scholarships Panel, announced in Staff Briefing #65.

The Panel agreed that the goal of scholarships was to attract and retain the best students and recommended that a number of changes be made to the provision and criteria, including:

  • Undergraduate scholarships will be open to home, EU and international students.
  • Applicants for undergraduate scholarships should no longer be means tested, since home and EU students from household incomes of less than £60,000 per year are eligible for cash in hand and/or a partial accommodation fee waiver via the College’s Financial Support Package.
  • Departments should be pre-allocated undergraduate scholarship numbers to ensure an appropriate spread.
  • Scholarships for Taught Master’s students should no longer be offered since the College has little difficulty attracting applications from outstanding students for these programmes.
  • An enlarged and more generous President’s PhD Scholarship scheme should be established that will be open to home, EU and international students across the Faculties and Business School. The scheme will use funds raised from alumni annual appeals, income from the Endowment, existing doctoral schemes and funds from other sources (e.g. industry).

The Management Board approved these recommendations. Adverts will appear shortly for fifty PhD scholarships which will be awarded to individuals demonstrating exceptional potential, to begin at the College in October 2013.

 

 

Imperial’s withdrawal from the IDEA League

The College has confirmed its decision to withdraw from the IDEA League, a network of universities in Europe with a focus on science and technology, with effect from December 2012. The decision follows a review and refocusing of Imperial’s top-level multi-institutional partnerships in line with the College’s current mission and its future development.

The IDEA League was founded in 1999 to establish joint activities in education, research and quality assurance and participate jointly in EU programmes. Current members are TU Delft, ETH Zurich, RWTH Aachen, ParisTech and Imperial. Joint activities for students have included summer school programmes and an annual sports event. Other achievements of the IDEA League include the development of the EIT Climate Change Knowledge Innovation Community (Climate KIC), and a collaborative Doctoral pilot programme focused on research relating to ageing, both of which will continue to involve the College.

The College has advised IDEA League partners that it remains committed to fostering strong collaborations with them and other leading European universities.