Summary of the key topics discussed
Court Seminar
Prior to the formal meeting of Court, Court received presentations from the University and the Students’ Association on work to enhance the student experience.
Main Agenda Items
Update from the Principal
Peter Mathieson, Principal & Vice-Chancellor, updated Court on a number of recent developments, including:
- successful events hosted by the University, the Students’ Association and the Sports Union to mark the beginning of the new academic year and welcome new students;
- engagement with UK Government over the future of supercomputing;
- the outcomes of national pay negotiations;
- the replacement of the Compliance Group with the Speakers and Events Oversight Group, with an expanded membership and remit;
- the successful hosting of the Edinburgh Book Festival at the University’s Edinburgh Futures Institute; and
- the participation of University-linked athletes at the Paris Olympic Games.
Reports from the Short Life Working Groups on Investments
Court held a special meeting on Thursday 3 October 2024, to give additional time to consider the reports of two Short-Life Working Groups on aspects of responsible investment. The outcomes of this are described in a statement published here:
University Court Statement on Responsible Investment | The University of Edinburgh
Finance
The Director of Finance provided a report on forecast financial results. Court discussed the need for both short-term and long-term measures to control expenditure, in the context of a challenging wider financial environment.
Court External Effectiveness Review
Court considered and agreed proposals put forward by Nominations Committee in response to the recommendations of the recent effectiveness review of Court and its committees.
Student Experience Update
Court received a summary of the University’s results in the National Student Survey and the Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey, alongside an overview of current work to enhance the student experience. Court noted that this on-going work directly addressed areas where the survey results indicated a need for improvement.
Estates
Court approved funding to enable Estates projects to progress and discussed some key considerations for the development of the next Estates Capital Plan.
College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine
Court approved proposals to modernise the structure and governance of the College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine and as a result enable greater transparency and consistency, both internally and in relation to the other Colleges.
Other items
Court approved updates to the Terms of Reference for Audit and Risk Committee and the Remuneration Committee Framework for Decision Making. Regular reports were received from the Students’ Association, the Sports Union, the Development and Alumni Office and Court’s committees. Court was also informed of changes in the ways universities are required to report to the Scottish Funding Council.
More detailed information on the University Court, including the membership, agenda, open papers and approved minutes can be found on the University Court webpages.