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DEPUTY PRINCIPAL /DEPUTY VICE-CHANCELLORcandidate information packOctober 2017

Deputy Principal/Deputy Vice-ChancellorDeputy Principal/Deputy Vice-Chancellor

CONTENTS

03 Introduction from the Principal and Vice-Chancellor

04 UWS Overview

06 Our Successes

07 Research Excellence alongside Industry and Enterprise Engagement

08 Creating a 21st Century Learning Environment Investing in our Infrastructure Our Campuses

12 UWS Truths

13 The Position

14 Source and Nature of Leadership and Management

14 Application

15 Living and Working in the West of Scotland

Introduction from the Principal and Vice-Chancellor

I am delighted to encourage you to consider this significant position within University of the West of Scotland. You will have a real opportunity to work with us to drive the University forward at an exciting time in its evolution and strategic development.

University of the West of Scotland is one of the country’s most innovative and dynamic modern universities with a real focus on student success. Our proud tradition of applied teaching and research, based upon a heritage which dates back 120 years, helps shape society in Scotland and around the world and we have great ambitions. We continue to develop our business and enterprise links and other partnerships with organisations locally, nationally and internationally. This has been helped by redevelopment of key areas on our five campuses (4 in the West of Scotland and one in London – which opened in the city in 2015 and already has over 1000 students). Work is progressing on our innovative new Lanarkshire Campus which will create a stunning HE facility for students from across the UK and internationally and open up a whole new range of opportunities for us, particularly in sport, health and science as well as in our business and enterprise activity.

UWS’ internationalisation has seen us build a network of TNE and articulation partners across the globe. We were delighted in 2016 to be recognised for the first time in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings, in the 601-800 category, and in 2017 we moved up into the top 600 grouping. We are also placed in THE’s Young University World Rankings as one of top 200 universities under 50 years of age.

We’re keen to continue to develop our reputation and make even more of an impact worldwide and are therefore looking for a senior leader who shares our ambition to change lives and transform communities. You should be an exceptional individual who can challenge, encourage and inspire and who can support us in achieving the position and influence that we deserve. You will contribute to the University’s strategic leadership to meet the needs of a dynamic and ambitious organisation operating in an increasingly competitive marketplace. You will help strengthen our reputation for teaching and research excellence and ensure that our student experience is even further enhanced and is integral to everything we do at UWS.

I am personally very excited by this opportunity for UWS to appoint an innovative and transformational deputy and thank you for your interest in the post. I very much hope that you will contact our recruitment consultant Alan Walter (tel +44 (0)131 202 1000, email [email protected]) to discuss this in more detail.

Professor Craig Mahoney Principal & Vice-Chancellor

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Deputy Principal/Deputy Vice-ChancellorDeputy Principal/Deputy Vice-Chancellor 04

5 CAMPUSES6 ACADEMIC SCHOOLS

17,000 STUDENTS1500 STAFF

Deputy Principal/Deputy Vice-Chancellor

UWS – An Overview

At UWS, we believe in our students’ future.

We have a proud record in delivering work-ready graduates and developing effective partnerships with business, industry and the public and voluntary sectors.

With our cutting-edge courses, practical knowledge, and intelligent teaching, we help our students get ahead.

UWS, as one of Scotland’s biggest modern universities with campuses in Ayr, Dumfries, Lanarkshire and Paisley, is the local university for over 30% of the population of central Scotland. It also has a growing national and international reach; its 5th UK campus opened in London in September 2015.

Through our innovative learning partnership we invest in people’s potential to shape their future. Built on uniting students, professionals, industry and our communities, this partnership stretches from the West of Scotland around the world.

We believe in the transformative power of active learning and engagement. We treat our students as individuals, partners and potential leaders in their fields and professions, providing them with the globally relevant knowledge, skills and confidence to think critically and to challenge received wisdom.

Through the strengthening of our academic excellence and application of our academic expertise, we will significantly increase turnover, broaden income streams and contribute to the international development of knowledge.

Find out more about UWS: www.uws.ac.uk/corporatestrategy

We want students to come to UWS to enjoy a transformative, international learning experience that impacts fundamentally on their lives.

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http://www.uws.ac.uk/corporatestrategy/


We’re proud to have received national recognition for our work across a range of diverse areas, including the student experience, health, equality and diversity and the environment

// Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2018 – officially recognised in the top 3% of universities worldwide.

// Times Higher Education Young University Rankings 2017 – officially recognised in the world’s top 200 universities under 50.

// The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2018 – recognised in the top 100 UK universities for the first time.

// Winner at the Herald Higher Education Awards 2017 for ‘Student Support Team’ and ‘Research Project’ of the year.

// Athena SWAN Institutional Bronze Award received in 2016.

// Winner at Scotland’s Dementia Awards 2016 for ‘Best Educational Initiative’ for our innovative intergenerational resource Dementia: Class in a Bag.

// Awarded the European Commission HR Excellence Award.

// THE Student Experience Survey 2015-16 – 4th most improved UK university.

// National Union of Students (NUS) Green Impact Gold Award – won by UWS Students’ Association reflecting student and staff dedication to positive environmental action over 2014-15.

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Research Excellence alongside Industry and Enterprise Engagement UWS’s research vision is to deliver transformational change through outputs that have a tangible, early and positive impact on societies and environment across the globe. Our research excellence covers an enormous breadth of interests and activities fall into three key strategic themes: Health; Society; and Sustainability. All staff are expected to engage with the research agenda and to generate contributions through active participation. We are therefore committed to our researchers’ ongoing development and of delivering doctoral research opportunities across all disciplines under the umbrella of impactful, transformative, and ethical research.

The transformation of the University’s research environment will build on the strong foundation evidenced by excellent results in the 2014 Research Excellence Framework (REF2014). This saw our staff participation in international and world class research double as a percentage of staff engaged, and the quality of our outputs improve significantly, resulting in our Scottish Funding Council Research Excellence Grant increasing by 60%.

UWS also has a long history of successful and productive engagement with business and industry and is able to offer a wide range of commercialisation and consultancy opportunities from specialist expertise and talent, to access to high-quality equipment and facilities. Our internationally-renowned academics share their expertise in a wealth of topics – spanning engineering, technology, business, education, healthcare, sport, science, the media and social sciences. We actively encourage, support and facilitate commercialisation of our IPs through licensing, spin-off and spin-out companies. We also offer help with grant applications for innovation projects, Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs), facilities for hosting events, and access to UWS graduates and students to meet job, internship and placement opportunities.


Creating a 21st Century Learning Environment

Investing in our Infrastructure

Ongoing investment in facilities across our campuses aims to ensure our students and staff have access to a state-of-the-art estate. Innovative learning and teaching informed by the latest pedagogy and through 21st Century learning technology, equipment and resources facilitates an enhancement of the overall student and staff experience wherever a student is based. Investment to support core student activities across the student life-cycle including careers, international student support, effective learning, finance and IT have also provided on-campus and virtual resources to enable students to access information and advice across the University.

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Ayr CampusOur £81million state-of-the-art Ayr Campus development opened in August 2011, providing a truly innovative learning environment for students. Developed by UWS in partnership with Scotland’s Rural University College it created one of the UK’s most modern, environmentally friendly and sustainable Higher Education learning environments. It is a stunning space for study, featuring some of Scottish Higher Education’s finest facilities with suites, studios and laboratories for performance, music, broadcasting, education and healthcare. On-campus student accommodation is also available.

Dumfries CampusOur beautiful Dumfries Campus is set in 80 acres of parkland and woods and overlooks the River Nith and the Galloway Hills. Dumfries Campus was Scotland’s first multi-institutional campus with the site shared by two universities and one college (University of the West of Scotland, University of Glasgow, and Dumfries and Galloway College).

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Lanarkshire Campus

In June 2016, University Court approved the business case for a new campus development in Lanarkshire. The new campus presents a transformational opportunity for UWS to develop a customised 21st century learning environment that will make a hugely significant contribution to the Scottish HE landscape and beyond. It will secure a much stronger presence for Higher Education in Lanarkshire, allowing the University to reprofile itself in a new location delivering an outstanding facility and HE experience. The development will provide a modern, state of the art campus that will significantly enhance the educational journey for our students, through the delivery of personalised and transformational Higher Education, as well as outstanding new opportunities for research and enterprise, outreach, university business engagement and significant economic benefit to the region. The new campus is scheduled to open in September 2018.

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London Campus

After significant work in preparing for the opening of our 5th UK campus, in September 2015 approval was given by UKVI (UK Visas & Immigration) for our new London Campus. Located close to the centre of the city, in Southwark, our London Campus provides a base for delivery of UWS courses to a new market. Our DBA and MBA programmes launched initially, and were soon joined by a range of options from our other Schools. The campus currently offers UWS undergraduate and postgraduate courses in business, management, health, social sciences and music.

Paisley Campus

Located in the centre of town, the campus occupies over 20 acres and is home to teaching spaces, lecture rooms, workshops and laboratories; as well as a library, students’ union, and a range of student accommodation (with investment of £17.6 million in a new student residence and refurbishment of student flats in 2011-12).

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Deputy Principal/Deputy Vice-Chancellor 12

UWS Truths

At UWS we adhere to a set of truths in all that we do:

// We are here for our students

// Our teaching is our passion, and it reaches to the future

// We understand that a graduate career is important to our students

// We are a knowledge-rich organisation

// We believe in partnership with business (private, public and global)

// We are an international university

// UWS is a great place to work and study

// We are an inclusive organisation that welcomes and values diversity

// UWS is a university that dares to be different


Deputy Principal/Deputy Vice-Chancellor Office of the Principal and Vice-Chancellor

The PositionReporting to and working closely with the Principal/Vice-Chancellor, the Deputy Principal/Deputy Vice-Chancellor (DVC) role is of key strategic importance to the University of the West of Scotland (UWS) in its leadership and day-to-day operational management of the University. The post holder will deputise for the Principal/Vice-Chancellor across all Executive functions and will support the Principal/Vice-Chancellor’s focus on external stakeholder development in areas such as international partnerships, business sector, Scottish and UK government bodies, finance sector interests, donors and UK university agencies.

The DVC will contribute to the University’s strategic leadership as demanded by a dynamic, ambitious organisation operating in an increasingly competitive marketplace. The DVC will be Executive lead for the Academic Schools with Deans reporting directly to them. Academic policies, which have a direct impact on the University’s financial performance, will be the responsibility of the DVC who will be an advocate for the distinctive academic and research portfolio offered by UWS. Through this, the DVC will help strengthen the reputation of the University for teaching and research excellence and ensure that the student experience is enhanced and integral to all that is achieved at the University.

The University operates in a competitive international Higher Education environment. Consequently, the portfolios of its senior leaders continually evolve to optimise institutional agility and effectiveness. The DVC has responsibility for the business performance and sustainability of the Schools and will work closely with the Chief Operating Officer, Chief Finance Officer and the Vice-Principals to oversee success. The DVC will lead on strategic and operational planning, working with members of the Vice-Chancellor’s Executive Group (VCEG) to ensure that the resources of the Schools and Professional Services are aligned with the delivery of the University’s Corporate Strategy. The DVC will also have control of all new significant projects and capital expenditures. The DVC will take responsibility for oversight and approval of all actions arising from VCEG members’ portfolios, reporting to the Vice-Chancellor at regular surgeries. This role is a pivotal link between the Principal/Vice-Chancellor, VCEG and University Leadership Team (ULT) members, and requires the ability to influence, negotiate, enforce decisions, monitor actions and effect change as appropriate.

The DVC will also engage with the governing body (the University Court) as a full member, particularly with regard to its responsibility to review progress towards meeting its strategic objectives, the monitoring of institutional performance and in the oversight of major capital projects. The DVC will be responsible for ensuring the provision of high-quality, appropriate and timely data to enable VCEG and the Court to understand and assess institutional performance, and to inform long-term strategic planning. Whilst the Vice-Chancellor is responsible for providing the governing body with advice on the strategic direction of the institution and for its management, the DVC is a key contributor in meeting this responsibility and in implementing the decisions of the Court. The DVC may be called upon to deputise for the Vice-Chancellor at specified Court sub-committees and related events as required.

The post will attract a competitive salary commensurate with skills and experience and predominantly be based on our Paisley campus but notwithstanding this, will be required by the University to work at any other location such as the University’s business may require subject to any request to do so being reasonable. A relocation package will be available and the post is superannuable under the Local Government Pension Scheme. The appointment will be for a period of five years, renewable for one additional term not exceeding five years, subject to satisfactory performance.

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Source and Nature of Leadership and Management This is a senior leadership role with extensive impact across the whole University community. The post holder will be required to work closely with the Chief Finance Officer to manage their own budget and oversee University budgets. In particular, the DVC will provide scrutiny and monitoring of Academic School budgets, especially income from recruitment, international activities and research grant applications together with staffing expenditure. They will also be expected to monitor and interrogate the impact of the financial performance for all Professional Services. The DVC is a member of Court, VCEG, the University Leadership Team, Senate, Audit and Risk Committee, Policy and Resources Committee and will report directly to the Principal/Vice-Chancellor.

The DVC has direct line management responsibility for the Deans and the Strategic Planning Directorate. In leading the annual planning process, they will play a significant role in aligning the Professional Services with the delivery of the University’s academic mission. The DVC will provide motivational leadership, and will foster the personal and professional development of their direct reports. Ensuring cabinet responsibility is a significant part of this role and the DVC will be required to oversee the portfolios of other members of VCEG on the Principal/Vice-Chancellor’s behalf.

The DVC may be required to undertake such other duties commensurate with the nature and level of the post as directed by the Principal/Vice-Chancellor. This may include the chairing of Appointment Panels, Appeals and Grievances Hearings as well as a wide variety of ad hoc ‘task and finish’ groups and strategic reviews.

ApplicationUniversity of the West of Scotland will be supported in this appointment process by the executive search firm Dixon Walter who will support the appointing panel in the discharge of its duties, both to assist in the assessment of candidates against the requirements of the role and to identify the widest possible field of qualified candidates.

Applications should consist of a full curriculum vitae and a covering letter of application addressing the job description and person specification.

Closing date: 10th November 2017. Interviews scheduled: 11-12th December 2017.

The final appointment will be made subject to satisfactory references.

To find out more about this exceptional opportunity with one of the country’s most innovative and ambitious universities contact our recruitment consultant Alan Walter on +44 (0)131 202 1000, email [email protected] or visit www.dixonwalter.co.uk/vacancies/uwsdepute

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Living and Working in the West of Scotland

Scotland is a great place to live and work, with a high quality of life and a range of lifestyle benefits such as excellent value house prices, straightforward commuting and easy access to beautiful countryside.

Our campuses in Ayr, Lanarkshire and Paisley are within close proximity to Scotland’s largest city, Glasgow, with our Dumfries Campus a 90-minute drive south of the city. There are numerous smaller towns and villages within travelling distance of all of the campuses, so whatever style of living you prefer, you will find something to suit your needs.

Scotland offers a culture steeped in history, dramatic untouched scenery, bustling towns and cities and a world renowned education system. The west coast boasts some of the world’s most stunning scenery and wildlife.

The town of Ayr is set among some of Scotland’s most impressive scenery and looks out on the Firth of Clyde, with the peaks of Arran in the foreground and the Mull of Kintyre in the background. Packed with historical sites, Ayrshire’s visitor attractions and cultural and leisure pursuits include unspoiled beaches and rolling hills, castles, a racecourse and, of course, golf courses. Burns and A’ That, a major festival which takes place in June, celebrates Ayr’s most famous son, Robert Burns.

Dumfries & Galloway is a region of rugged coastlines, sandy beaches and tranquil lochs; and has over 300 square miles of forest to explore, with the largest forest park in Britain; and in excess of 30 golf courses and driving ranges.

Our Lanarkshire Campus is located in Hamilton, close to a number of country parks and nature reserves such as Strathclyde Park. The cultural cities of Glasgow, Edinburgh and Stirling are nearby, and the beautiful scenery of the Clyde Valley and the Borders is within easy reach.

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Paisley combines the heritage and history of the Paisley pattern shawl and the Victorian thread industry with cultural interests including the Museum and Art Gallery, the 12th century Abbey, a thriving youth theatre and the Spree Arts festival. Loch Lomond and the Trossachs are both easily accessible from the town. Paisley is currently in the running for UK City of Culture 2021 and is the only Scottish location shortlisted. UWS has played a significant supporting role in the bid process.

Glasgow and Edinburgh are close to our campuses and offer excellent shopping, superb café culture, museums and galleries, world-famous music venues and international cuisine.

Travelling to and from our campuses is easy thanks to excellent road and rail links. Glasgow International Airport is on the outskirts of Paisley, and Prestwick International Airport is also easily accessible, being around 40 minutes away by road or rail from Paisley Campus; Prestwick is also just a 15-minute drive from Ayr Campus.

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www.uws.ac.uk

At UWS, we believe in our students’ future.

We have a proud record in delivering work-readygraduates and developing effective partnershipswith business, industry and the public andvoluntary sectors.

With our cutting-edge courses, practicalknowledge, and intelligent teaching, we help ourstudents get ahead.

Through our innovative learning partnership weinvest in people’s potential to shape their future.Built on uniting students, professionals, industryand our communities, this partnership stretchesfrom the West of Scotland around the world.

We believe in the transformative power of activelearning and engagement. We treat our studentsas individuals, partners and potential leadersin their fields and professions, providing themwith the globally relevant knowledge, skills andconfidence to think critically and to challengereceived wisdom.

DREAMING, BELIEVING, ACHIEVINGA 21ST CENTURY UNIVERSITY

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