Ministerial University Research and Knowledge Exchange Sustainability Taskforce: terms of reference and membership
Published 28 May 2020
© Crown copyright 2020
This publication is licensed under the terms of the Open Government Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated. To view this licence, visit nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3 or write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gov.uk.
Where we have identified any third party copyright information you will need to obtain permission from the copyright holders concerned.
This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ministerial-university-research-and-knowledge-exchange-sustainability-taskforce/ministerial-university-research-and-knowledge-exchange-sustainability-taskforce-terms-of-reference-and-membership
Terms of reference
The purpose of the taskforce is to provide an advisory forum for ministers at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) and the Department for Education (DFE) to engage with university research and knowledge exchange stakeholders with the aim of sustaining the university research base and its capability to contribute effectively to UK society and economy in the recovery to coronavirus (COVID-19) and beyond.
To support this it will look to:
- share information and intelligence about the health of the university research and the knowledge exchange carried out by and within higher education institutions (HEIs)
- identify potential impacts on the sustainability of university research and knowledge exchange directly arising from the response to COVID-19
- share intelligence on government and other sources of support or funding that may be available and develop approaches that building on these to address the impacts of coronavirus and protect and sustain HEI research capability and capacity
- where possible share evidence of the impacts on university research and knowledge exchange of the taskforce’s advice
The taskforce will have an advisory role, providing views on these topics alongside a range of other sources of advice.
Ways of working
The taskforce will be jointly chaired by the Minister for Science, Research and Innovation and the Minister for Universities. BEIS will provide the secretariat.
The taskforce will be responsive to a quickly changing situation. It will initially aim to meet fortnightly for up to 2 hours, however ad hoc meetings may be called at short notice as the situation requires. As far as is possible the final agenda and any discussion papers should be issued 5 days before the meeting.
While the work of the taskforce will be fast moving and responsive to emerging issues, where possible topics for substantive discussion should be scoped out and agreed at the proceeding meeting.
Members are encouraged to participate fully in the discussion at meetings, and to represent the views and experiences of all parts of the university research sector about which they have expertise, not just those of the particular organisation to which they are affiliated.
Given the sensitive nature of some of the issues that might be discussed, the content of discussion will remain confidential.
The taskforce will be time limited and is created in response to the current coronavirus pandemic. All arrangements for the group’s operation, including membership and the need for the taskforce to continue its work, will be reviewed on a quarterly basis.
Membership
The core membership will consist of senior representatives from the UK’s university research sector and its key stakeholders. They are selected for their ability to represent the views and experiences of university research and knowledge exchange and for their individual expertise in science, research, innovation and higher education.
The taskforce may co-opt additional participants where their expertise is relevant to particular topics under discussion.
Attendance by substitutes will not normally allowed except where:
- the member is unable to avoid being absent from the meeting
- that absence would significantly affect the quality of the discussion
- the member has agreed a designated standing substitute with the secretariat
Alternatively, a member who is unable to attend may provide written comments in advance of the meeting to the secretariat.
Current members
- Amanda Solloway MP, Minister of State for Science, Research and Innovation, BEIS (Joint Chair)
- Michelle Donelan MP, Minister of State for Universities, DfE (Joint Chair)
- Richard Lochhead MSP, Minister for FE, HE & Science, Scottish Government
- Kirsty Williams AM, Minister for Education, Welsh Government
- Diane Dodds MLA, Minister for the Economy, NI Assembly
- Lorna Gibb, Director of Advanced Learning and Science, Scottish Government
- Dr Angharad Penny-Evans, Head of European Transition (HE Policy), Welsh Government
- Trevor Cooper, Director, Higher Education Branch, Department for the Economy, NI Executive
- Karen Watt, CEO, Scottish Funding Council (SFC)
- David Blaney, CEO, Higher Education Funding Council for Wales (HEFCW)
- Jo Shanmugalingam, DG Business & Science Group, BEIS
- Paul Kett, DG HE and FE Group, DFE
- Emma Lindsell / Isobel Stephen, Executive Directors, Strategy, Performance and Engagement (Jobshare), UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)
- David Sweeney, Executive Chair, Research England
- Nicola Dandridge, Chief Executive, Office for Students (OfS)
- Dr Julie Maxton, Executive Director, Royal Society
- Alistair Jarvis, Chief Executive, Universities UK (UUK)
- Tim Bradshaw, Chief Executive, Russell Group
- Clare Viney, Chief Executive, Vitae
- Alan Langlands, Vice Chancellor, University of Leeds
- Steve Smith, Vice Chancellor, University of Exeter
- Paul Boyle, Vice Chancellor, Swansea University