INTRODUCTION

In the University’s Corporate Planning Statement June 2005 a commitment was given to revisit the Vision as part of the development of a new Corporate Plan, during the 2005/06 academic year, and to assess its continued relevance to the future direction and guidance of the University and its staff.

The process for developing the new Corporate Plan commenced on 5 May 2005 with a Senior Staff Corporate Planning session that focused on strategic analysis. The Council then held a Corporate Planning Day on 1 September 2005, to consider the future strategic direction for the institution. The Council was joined at the Planning Day by the Vice-Chancellor’s Advisory Group (VCAG) whose members were present to provide clarification and advice regarding the University’s current position and strategies. A report on feedback received during the Council’s Planning Day was considered by Council at its meeting in October. As the process to develop a new Corporate Plan was refined consideration was given to the detail of the plan; the approach to be adopted in order to achieve a consensus regarding the Vision, Mission, Core Values and Strategic Aims; and securing input from staff during the consultation process.

Consultation process
An email was issued to each member of staff, from the Chairman of Council and the then Acting Vice-Chancellor, on 13 April 2006 inviting them to discuss the draft Corporate Plan 2006/07 to 2010/11 “through formal faculty governance structures, for example School Boards, and at team meetings in central departments”. Views were also sought from the Students’ Union and the Trade Unions.

Following careful consideration of the responses received during the consultation period a number of substantive changes were made to the Vision, Core Strategic and Cross-cutting Aims, and to the detailed key supporting objectives. The Senior Management Group also made a recommendation to the Council that the Mission Statement be dropped to provide clarity and focus by concentrating on the new Vision and Corporate Aims.

This Corporate Plan for the period 2006/07 to 2010/11 reflects responses received during the consultation period and takes cognisance of the recommendations of the Seven Year Review Committee. It establishes the University’s core business and activities for the foreseeable future; sets the strategic direction for the next five-year period; and provides the overarching framework within which the University will take forward the best interests of its staff and students.

Next Steps

• The Corporate Risk Register will be updated to reflect the risks established in the Corporate Plan 2006/07 to 2010/11 and will set out for each of them the business implications, potential root causes, controls and mitigating actions;
• The Annual Business Plan for 2006/07 will be finalised and presented to Council in October 2006. During the academic year 2006/07 the plan will be monitored and a progress report prepared for Council at the end of each four month period;
• Baseline information and annual targets, for the five-year period, will be set for each of the metrics incorporated in the Corporate Plan 2006/07 to 2010/11 and presented to Council in October 2006. During the academic year 2006/07 and each academic year thereafter these will be monitored and reported to Council; and
• The Corporate Plan will inform the preparation and update of other University strategies, and in particular the financial strategy and five year financial projections.