Download the Core Academic Governance Committee Schedule 2023-24
Access the academic governance committee papers and minutes (QUB staff login required)
Further information on all University committees, working groups and fora, including those that engage staff and student members in academic matters, is available.
The University’s governing body is Senate which is responsible for the ongoing strategic direction of the University, the management and administration of its revenue and property and general conduct of its affairs. Senate has delegated responsibility for academic governance to Academic Council.
In March 2021, Academic Council approved a revised academic governance structure with new subcommittees empowered to make decisions on behalf of the University, as outlined in Figure 1 below.
Figure 1
The subcommittees of Academic Council align to core University Strategies (Strands of Strategy 2030) or Frameworks as follows:
- Education Committee (Quality and Standards) – Quality Assurance Framework.
- Education Committee (Student Experience) – Education Strategy.
- Honorary Titles Committee – Honorary Titles Framework.
- Research and Innovation Committee – Research and Innovation Strategy.
Core, indicative schedules of business on academic matters for 2023-24 have been devised for each committee (see sections below) to enable committee members to plan for and engage in upcoming academic matters; to support committee members to actively represent their constituency; and to encourage wider staff and student engagement with academic-related developments, enabling better cross-University debate, planning and action, with resources focused on key priorities. The schedules are flexible so that emerging issues can be included, and will be adapted to respond to changing priorities in the internal or external environment.
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Engaging with Committee Members
Membership of the subcommittees of Academic Council has been considered to ensure that each committee can avail of pertinent expertise and respond with agility, and to strengthen consultation with, and input from, a diverse range of stakeholders leading to more ownership of decision-making, more inclusive dissemination of information, and more effective implementation.
Committee members are expected to actively represent their constituency; engage in information gathering, discussion, debate and decision-making; disseminate decisions; and provide feedback on progress and the impact of actions, for example. The sections below include the Schedule of Business, Terms of Reference and membership for each committee to enable staff and students to contact their representatives and get involved in academic governance matters.
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Supportive Measures for Effective Academic Governance
The following practices were successfully introduced in 2021-22 in order to encourage engagement, streamline paperwork, and focus the business of the committee on matters for discussion and decision:
- Green Papers to increase consultation and engagement with major issues at the formative stage, and White Papers to present informed recommendations for approval.
- A risk based approach to oversight, not requiring reports on implementation unless an action needs approved, or a risk has been identified.
- Streamlined papers with executive summaries, and focused on providing only pertinent information to inform decision making, or to provide updates on agreed actions.
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Academic Council
Remit: In accordance with the Charter (item 13), and Statue XI (3), Academic Council shall have control of the internal academic affairs of the University, both in teaching and in research, and for the regulation and superintendence of the education and discipline of the students of the University, subject to the powers of the Senate.
Academic Council's Terms of Reference and membership.
Academic Council’s indicative Schedule of Business for 2023-24.
Academic Council is serviced by, and contacted through, Academic Affairs.
- Education Committee (Quality and Standards)
Remit: The Education Committee (Quality and Standards) shall, subject to the powers of Academic Council, act as guardian of the University’s Quality Assurance Framework by having ownership of, and responsibility for, its development, implementation and management of risks, while also horizon scanning, forward planning and developing new approaches in response to national and regional requirements and good practice. The Quality Assurance Framework relates to the maintenance of standards and the enhancement and assurance of the quality of academic provision for all taught and research programmes leading to awards by, or in partnership with, the University.
ECQS Terms of Reference and membership.
ECQS indicative Schedule of Business for 2023-24.
Education Committee (Quality and Standards) is serviced by, and contacted through, Academic Affairs.
- Education Committee (Student Experience)
Remit: The Education Committee (Student Experience) shall, subject to the powers of Academic Council, act as guardian of the University’s Education Strategy by having ownership of, and responsibility for, the development and implementation of each of the strands contained within the strategy, while also horizon scanning, forward planning and developing new initiatives as the strategy adapts over the lifecycle. As such the Committee will focus on the strands of a transformative student experience, an education for societal impact and enhancing the learning experience.
ECSE Terms of Reference and membership.
ECSE indicative Schedule of Business for 2023-24.
Education Committee (Student Experience) is serviced by, and contacted through, the Centre for Educational Development.
- Honorary Titles Committee
Remit: The Honorary Titles Committee shall, subject to the powers of Academic Council, act as guardian of the University’s Honorary Titles Framework by having ownership of, and responsibility for its development and implementation including the conferral of the University’s Honorary Titles, Visiting Titles and Titles for Chairs, whilst ensuring beneficial external contributions to the University, and equality of opportunity.
HTC Terms of Reference and membership.
HTC indicative Schedule of Business for 2023-24.
The Honorary Titles Committee is serviced by, and contacted through, Academic Affairs.
- Research and Innovation Committee
Remit: The Research and Innovation Committee shall, subject to the powers of Academic Council, act as guardian of the University’s Research and Innovation Strategy by having ownership of, and responsibility for, the development and implementation of each of the strands contained within the strategy, while also horizon scanning, forward planning and developing new initiatives as the strategy adapts over the lifecycle. The Committee will also be responsible for research governance matters, including overseeing compliance with the Concordat to Support Research Integrity.
RIC Terms of Reference and membership.
RIC indicative Schedule of Business for 2023-24.
The Research and Innovation Committee is serviced by, and contacted through, the Research Policy Office.