1994 Group

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1994 Group
1994 Group
Data
Established 1994
Members 19
Continent Europe
Country United Kingdom
Chair of the Board Prof. Steve Smith

University of Exeter
Executive Director Paul M. Marshall

The 1994 Group is a coalition of 'smaller research-intensive universities' founded to defend their interests after the larger research-intensive universities founded the Russell Group. They describe themselves as "internationally recognised universities in Britain, who share common aims, standards and values." The group aims to provide "a framework for collaboration between research-intensive universities in the UK." [1]

Contents

[edit] Overview

According to the 'Patterns 3' report by Universities UK, "The Russell Group and the 1994 Group share many features, but are distinguished chiefly by the fact that most members of the Russell Group have medical schools, and an emphasis on science and technology. Within the Russell Group a small number of institutions are outliers on the basis of the statistical information available, and if these were excluded from the analysis, the Russell Group and the 1994 Group would show very similar characteristics." It should be noted that several of the 1994 Group institutions also have medical schools and an emphasis on science and technology, so this is not a clear distinguishing feature of the Russell group.

There is currently one common member of the Russell Group and the 1994 Group - the University of Warwick. In terms of research funding, this is one of the two smallest English institutions in the Russell Group (HEFCE Research Funding allocations, 2004/5). Warwick is the largest of the 1994 institutions by this measure and represents the overlap point between the two groups. It comes in 15th overall with respect to its size and is joined in the top 20 English institutions (by this measure) by Durham, York, Reading, Surrey and Queen Mary, University of London.

On the 1st August 2006 Leicester, Loughborough, SOAS and Queen Mary, University of London were admitted to the 1994 Group.

However, the 1994 Groups should not be seen solely as being defined by comparison with the Russell Group. While this was the driving force behind its formation, it has spread into other activities such as the Dangoor Scholarships - 1000 scholarships of 1000 pounds each funded by Naim Dangoor and available for students starting university in 2005/6.

[edit] Aims

The 1994 groups aims are:

  • Maximise the groups influence in policy making and decision by increasing the visability of the group
  • Attract the highest calibre of students and staff through international awarness of member institutions
  • Maximising income to the members through teaching and research excellence
  • Co-operate on practices that increase student and staff experience
  • Collaborate to create services that allow members to adapt rapidly and flexibly with the dynamic market of higher education

Further to these aims the group has a set of shared values; that maintaining traditions and cutting-edge research are not mutually exclusive; internationally regonised universities ought to have a role and contribuite on all scales; high quality research should be supported with high quality teaching and all students and staff from any background should be able to develop in a condusive atmosphere and environment that maximises their potential.

[edit] Governance and Management Structure

The 1994 Group is headed by a Board made up of the heads of member institutions. The Board meets formally on four occasions each year. In addition, an annual residential conference takes place in the summer where longer-term strategic issues are discussed.

The Board has responsibility for determining strategy and has ultimate responsibility for all activity including the overall Communications Strategy, as well as determining the development of Group policy and agreeing all policy papers, positioning statements and consultation responses, and responsibility for the governance of all joint activity. Board members are key to the development and delivery of Group policy. Without their support, the Group is unable to function.

[edit] Chair

There is a Chair elected by the Board from among its members for a three year term of office. Professor Steve Smith will take the Chair from 1 August 2006-09.

The Chair is the national spokesperson for the Group and represents its interests where a senior representative of the Group is required. The Chair has overall responsibility for the development and delivery of the Communication Strategy on behalf of the Board. In this role, the Chair regularly meets with representatives of all key stakeholders bodies in a formal and informal capacity.

[edit] Advisory Group

The Chair is assisted in undertaking their duties by a Chair’s Advisory Group elected from the Board for a three year period of office (initial membership was staggered to ensure a rolling change of membership). The CAG meets on four occasions each year. Current CAG members (and terms of office) are as follows:

  • Ivor Crewe (September 2007);
  • Gordon Marshall (September 2007);
  • Alasdair Smith (September 2007);
  • Paul Wellings (September 2008); and
  • Shirley Pearce (December 2009).

CAG members have a general brief for assisting the Chair in the development of all areas of Group policy (including management of the relationship with the Policy Groups).

The CAG has a central role in the development of relationships with Government, Funding Bodies, and HE Stakeholder Organisations. In addition, CAG members are available to speak to the media on behalf of the Group if the Chair is unavailable.

[edit] Policy Groups

Below Board level, the Group has established three policy groups at Pro-Vice-Chancellor level: Research and Enterprise (Chaired by Professor Dianne Berry, Reading); Student Experience (Chaired by Professor Janice Kay, Exeter); and Strategic Planning and Resources (Chaired by Professor Phil Jones, Durham). In future, the Chairs of the Policy Groups will be elected on a three-year term of office from amongst the members of the Groups. The Policy Groups are not expected to meet on more than three occasions each year.

The Policy Groups provide an essential avenue via which the group can strengthen inter-institutional activity and provide fora for the development of longer term policy positions and consultation responses. To guide their work, each Policy Group has an agreed work-plan with the Board setting out the issues for its consideration over the forthcoming academic year. The Chairs of the Policy Groups maintain regular contact with the Chair and are invited to attend meetings of the Board or the CAG when appropriate.

The Policy Groups are central to the successful implementation of the Communication Strategy as they provide the meat to hang from the Group’s bones. They provide a way for the Group to develop relationships with internal stakeholders and a mechanism for engagement with Government, Funding Bodies and other HE Stakeholder organisations.

[edit] Informal Networking Groups

In addition to the formal governance structure set out above, there are a number of other informal networking groups operating below Board level (for example, Registrars, Planning Directors, HR Directors, Librarians, and Student’s Union Presidents). These receive no direct support from the central organisation, but exist because their members believe there is added value to be achieved by the exchange and development of best practice at Group level.

These informal networking groups play an important role in promoting the Group brand to internal stakeholders and provide important routes through which the Board or Policy Groups might test emerging policy, positioning statements or joint responses.

[edit] 1994 Group Administration

The 1994 Group Administration is currently located in the Gray’s Inn Road Business Centre, WC1X. In addition to the staff offices, the building provides flexible facilities for Board, CAG, Policy Group, or large stakeholder meetings as well as smaller rooms for meetings with individual stakeholders. The Administration is made up of the following members of staff:

[edit] Executive Director

There is an Executive Director, Paul M. Marshall who is the head of the 1994 Group Administration.

The Executive Director has central responsibility for co-ordinating all levels of Group activity and provides senior secretarial support to the Board and the CAG.

Working alongside the Chair, the Executive Director is the central point of contact between the Group and the external world and has a primary responsibility for promoting the Group to external stakeholders.

The Executive Director is ultimately responsible for the development the Group’s external profile including press co-ordination drafting and updating publicity materials and the maintenance and development of the Group website.

[edit] Director of Internal Policy Development

In recognition of the Executive Director’s primarily role in promoting the Group brand to external stakeholders, there is a Director, Mr Tom Norton, who has primary responsibility for the promotion and development of internal Group activity.

The Director plays a central role in the management of the Group, providing cover for the Executive Director in his absence due to travel, leave or illness.

The Director has a specific remit to work with the Policy Groups in drafting policy papers, preparing position papers and collective responses to consultation exercises, and for organisation of the Group’s Annual Conference.

[edit] Current Members

Institution Location Established Vice-chancellor Total Number of Students Website
University of Bath Bath 1966 Professor Glynis Breakwell 12,484 [2]
Birkbeck, University of London London 1823 Professor David S Latchman [3]
Durham University Durham 1832 Professor Sir Kenneth Calman 15,314 [4]
University of East Anglia Norwich 1963 Professor Bill MacMillan 13,692 [5]
University of Essex Colchester 1964 Professor Sir Ivor Martin Crewe 8,800 [6]
University of Exeter Exeter 1955 Professor Steve Smith 13,554 [7]
Goldsmiths College, University of London London 1891 Professor Geoffrey Crossick 7,434 [8]
Lancaster University Lancaster 1964 Prof. Paul Wellings > 15,000 [9]
University of Leicester Leicester 1921 Professor Robert Burgess 18,005 [10]
Loughborough University Loughborough 1909 Professor Shirley Pearce 14,380 [11]
Queen Mary, University of London London 1885 Professor AFM Smith 10,056 [12]
University of Reading Reading 1892 Professor Gordon Marshall 17,518 [13]
Royal Holloway, University of London London 1849 Professor Stephen Hill 7,700 [14]
School of Oriental and African Studies London 1916 Professor Paul Webley 3,733 [15]
University of St Andrews St Andrews 1413 Dr Brian Lang 6,808 [16]
University of Surrey Guildford 1891 Prof. Christopher M. Snowden 13,109 [17]
University of Sussex Falmer 1961 Professor Alasdair Smith 12,348 [18]
University of Warwick* Coventry 1965 Professor Nigel Thrift 16,175 [19]
University of York York 1963 Professor Brian Cantor 9,401 [20]
Note: * Also a member of the Rusell Group of Universities.

[edit] Previous Members

Until 1 October 2004 the list included the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology (UMIST), now merged with the Victoria University of Manchester. The new University of Manchester formed by the merger is in the Russell Group. The London School of Economics, also a member of the Russell Group, was a member of the group until 2006, but is no longer listed on the group's website.

[edit] See also

UK University Organisations

Types of UK university

International Groups of Universities

[edit] External links


The 1994 Group (of smaller British research universities)
Bath | Birkbeck | Durham | East Anglia | Essex | Exeter | Goldsmiths College | Lancaster | Leicester | Loughborough | Queen Mary | Reading | Royal Holloway |
School of Oriental and African Studies | St Andrews | Surrey | Sussex | Warwick* | York
* Also a member of the Russell Group
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