Join the Board of Governors

Contents.

Foreword from the Chair of the Board of Governors 03

Transforming Lives and Inspiring Change 03

Waterside Campus 04

Changemaker Challenges 05

Values and Key Behaviours 06

Our purpose and impact 07

Why join the Board? 08

Role description 09

Person specification 10

How to apply 11

Foreword from Sylvia Hughes, Chair of the Board of Governors

Transforming Lives and Inspiring Change is the mission of the University of Northampton. It is also our strategic plan for success. The three factors most critical for our success are:

The University relies on its governors to give oversight, to be a critical friend, and to be its trustee over the long term. For us to do this effectively, it’s vital that our Board members are drawn from all walks of life and bring a breadth of perspective and experience. You will find us to be a friendly and supportive team, which enjoys working collaboratively.

We get great personal satisfaction from our work on the Board, and our personal and professional development benefits enormously. This booklet contains further information about why it’s worth being involved in the University, and what we are looking for in a governor. I urge you to give the opportunity to join us some serious thought.

Thank you for your interest in the University and its Board of Governors.

Transforming Lives and Inspiring Change

Future Focused.

Super Supportive.

Social Impact.

Our progress towards achieving our objectives is supported by:

■ Our brand new, state-of-the-art Waterside Campus

■ Our four Changemaker Challenges ■ Our values and Key Behaviours ■ An Operational Plan which sets out a range of Key Performance Indicators.

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Waterside Campus

The Waterside Campus is the embodiment of our mission to transform lives and inspire change. With a £300m capital investment, we have transformed a 58-acre brownfield site in central Northampton into an innovative campus with our students at its heart.

The campus allows us to put our students first and is flexible to their changing needs, creating a University that teaches in a way that mirrors the skills our graduates will need when they are in employment. It has been purpose-built to adapt to 21st century teaching, and provides 1,000 student bed spaces in flats and townhouses. The campus will also have a positive impact on the environment. As part of the development we have constructed our own energy centre. This uses woodchip biomass and gas to heat hot water for all the buildings and student residencies and will save over 1,000 tonnes of CO2 in the short term.

The campus also has a Grade II listed former Engine Shed that has been converted into the home of the Students’ Union and its sports, societies and services. The building is a fusion of classic and modern design.The Learning Hub and Creative Hub buildings house learning resources, staff and spaces that would traditionally be separate in order to promote creative synergy.

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Changemaker Challenges

We chose to seek recognition by Ashoka U as a Changemaker Campus because it aligns with our social impact agenda and puts us on a worldwide stage amongst a group of like-minded institutions. To support our status as a Changemaker Campus, we have set ourselves four Changemaker Challenges:

Changemaker is a term coined by the social entrepreneurship organisation Ashoka U. It means one who desires change in the world, and, by gathering knowledge and resources, makes that change happen. The University is one of over 45 colleges and universities globally recognised by Ashoka U as Changemaker Campuses, and is the only Changemaker campus in England.

Challenge 1Make Northamptonshire the best county in the UK for children and young people to flourish and learn.

Challenge 2Make Northamptonshire the leading county in the UK for Health and Wellbeing.

Challenge 3Build the cultural and heritage traditions of Northamptonshire into world class attractions.

Challenge 4Make Northamptonshire the best county in the UK to start, build and run a business.

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The University’s values are: Delivering: a student experience of the highest qualityEntrepreneurial: the commitment to innovation, value for money and financial sustainabilityValuing: opportunity, diversity, a global perspective, inclusion and equality for allEnabling: a culture of empowerment, responsibility, tolerance and excellence

Values and Key Behaviours

The KeyBehaviours

Enabling digitaltransformation

Thriving ina changing

environment

Focusing on research

AchievingSocial Impact

Delivering high quality performance

Buildingrelationships

Delivering an excellent student

or customer experienceFocusing on

income and advancement

Developing yourself and

others

We ensure that our staff are aligned to the University’s strategy by asking them to relate their objectives for the academic year to the development and improvement of nine Key Behaviours. The Key Behaviours support the achievement of the Critical Success Factors.

Leading: enhancing the economic, social, cultural and creative life of those we work with across the worldOpenness: transparency, adaptability, resilience, celebration of successPerformance: through continuous staff development and investment.

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The University of Northampton is a Higher Education Corporation and a charity. The University is regulated by the Office for Students. The University’s charitable purpose is the advancement of education. The Board of Governors are the trustees of the University.

Our purpose and impact

The main beneficiary of our charitable aims is our large and diverse student body. We have a transformative purpose: to make a positive difference. We do this by providing students with a first class education that equips them to play a productive part in the world. Our positive impact is also felt through the wider social value that the University creates in the broad communities it serves. That value may be seen across Northamptonshire and beyond.

We are a key driver of local and regional economic growth In our most recent Economic Impact Report, the University of Northampton and its students generated nearly £244m of output in Northampton town with an additional £45m in the rest of Northamptonshire and a further £132m in the rest of the East Midlands.

We are an engine of social enterprise and innovation in the region Through our Changemaker Challenges we are focused on making Northamptonshire the best county for young people to flourish and learn, the leading county for health and well-being and to start, build and run a business. We hold the Social Enterprise Gold Mark which is awarded to leaders in being open, honest and fair in terms of their governance procedures, business ethics and how they fund social and environmental impact projects.

We are a unifying force for social mobility Undergraduate students at the University of Northampton are more likely than students at other universities to come from Low Participation Neighbourhoods (13.6% compared to 11.6% nationally) and our student body is ethnically much more diverse than the surrounding county (39.3% black and minority ethnic, compared to 8.5% for Northamptonshire).

We provide the public sector workers of the future A core focus of the University is the training of people to work in specific public services roles. Each year University trains around 450 teachers, police officers, nurses and other health specialists. That’s about 1.5% of all the new

nurses the country needs every year. Many of our courses prepare people for specific roles such as Mental Health Nurses, Paramedics, Midwives and Occupational Therapists. The University’s International Nursing Midwifery Council (NMC) Competency Test Centre was created to ensure nurses who qualified outside the UK and EU practice on a level similar to that of their UK qualified peers. Since it opened in 2014, over 6,000 nursing and midwifery professionals have undertaken the test with Northampton.

We run life-changing research and knowledge exchange projectsFor example, our research is contributing to the development of new cancer therapies.

We work in transformative partnerships with other organisations In 2017/18, over 4,500 University of Northampton students enrolled at its academic partners.

We support business developmentThe Northamptonshire Growth Hub, which is run by the University, provided 2,735 business interventions in 2017/18, including 1,104 interventions involving more than three hours support or a grant for a small or medium sized enterprise.

We use our purchasing power to help make a positive difference to peoples’ lives and the communities in which we liveOur new £330m award-winning Waterside Campus development employed 755 local people through the project supply chain and created over 200 new jobs. Forty local suppliers engaged with the project.

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Our governors benefit from being part of a successful and ambitious University whose mission is to transform lives and inspire change, for its students, graduates, staff and local, regional and international communities. The University of Northampton has a leading role to play in the development of Northampton and Northamptonshire.

Why join the Board?

Our ambitious plans develop and support our local community. As a member of the Board you can help the University engage with, reflect and respond to the needs of our community. You will be at the forefront of the development of the University, overseeing its strategy, direction and long-term future. You will build professional networks, collaborate with other governors and staff, and build your profile and impact. You will work as part of a strong and supportive team of your fellow governors and members of staff. In return your skills, experience and perspective help the University to ensure that it continues to fulfil its mission, and provide the Board with a vital voice and experience from the academic and higher education sector.

Diversity We value diversity and the range and depth that it brings to our University. We are proud of our diverse student body and we are keen to diversify the membership of the Board. Applications from women, those with BME backgrounds, with declared disabilities, and LBGTIQ candidates will be warmly received.

Due to the nature of Board discussions, the role may be better suited to someone who has recently retired, or stepped away from a leadership role in a higher education institution.

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The work of the Board of GovernorsThe members of the Board of Governors work together to oversee the activities of the University in order to ensure its future sustainability and safeguard its good name and reputation. As part of this work, the Board:

■ approves the mission, vision, strategy and values of the University

■ approves and monitors the University’s operational plan and key performance indicators

■ appoints the Vice Chancellor as Chief Executive, and oversees his/her executive direction of the University

■ is the trustee of the University’s property and assets

Role description

Responsibilities In addition to taking collective responsibility for the work of the Board as outlined above, the Board expects its individual members to:

■ offer insight, expertise and an external view ■ act fairly and impartially in the interests of the University as a whole

■ contribute to the development of strategy ■ evaluate and monitor the work of the University in a constructively critical fashion

■ be impartial, unbiased, and open-minded whilst being respectful of approved policy and procedure

■ offer challenge whilst maintaining positive and constructive relationships with University employees

■ contribute constructively to debate ■ identify risks and the consequences of actions ■ be objective in analysing information and courses of action

■ operate with tact and diplomacy ■ understand the distinction between governance and management, avoiding involvement in the executive management of the University

■ participate fully in procedures for review of the Board of Governors, the senior post holders and individual board members

■ display commitment to the University and identification with its vision, mission and values.

Duties ■ Carry out the role in accordance with the University’s Code of Conduct for Governors, which includes the Seven Principles of Public Life (selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty, leadership), and the Public Interest Governance Principles

■ Respect confidentiality ■ Declare conflicts of interest and connections which could be viewed as conflicts of interest

■ Take part in induction to develop familiarity with the University, and build up knowledge of the University and the sector

■ Commit sufficient time to carry out the role effectively, attending all Board and relevant committee meetings. The time commitment is: – there are eleven Board meetings per year,

normally taking place in the morning of thethird Wednesday of the month

– Board Members normally sit on one of the Board’s committees or working groups, which is typically a further three meetings per year

– there is one overnight away day per year,usually in mid-January, and one dinnerin July

– Board Members are expected to be able to commit some time to an appropriate involvement to understand the work of the University through attendance at induction meetings and events such as degree shows,conferences or graduation ceremonies.

Responsibilities and duties of Governors ■ ensures that the University’s resources are used effectively and efficiently, that the University is solvent over the long-term, and its assets are safeguarded

■ receives assurance about the welfare of students

■ ensures that there are effective systems of control and accountability and monitors them. This includes financial controls, audit systems, risk assessments, academic governance, legal and regulatory compliance and accountability for public funding

■ appoints other senior postholders, and oversees their work.

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RemunerationThe role is unpaid. Expenses will be reimbursed. This could include cover should you have caring responsibilities.

Person specification

Links for further information: ■ The University’s Strategic Plan ■ Current Members of the Board of Governors ■ The University’s constitutional documents ■ Minutes of previous Board meetings ■ The Leadership Foundation for Higher Education’s advice on Becoming a Governor

For any further questions or an initial discussion about the role, please contact Miriam Lakin, Clerk to the Board of Governors by email: governance@northampton.ac.uk

Essential/ Desirable

Assessment Method(s)

Knowledge and experience

E

Experience of creating and implementing strategy in a complex environment with multiple stakeholders

E A/I

Experience of governance through working on a board or committee D A

Awareness of the operational issues of managing an organisation, for example:■ leadership■ financial management and reporting■ internal or external audit■ risk management■ monitoring performance■ information technology■ business development/entrepreneurialism■ customer experience and customer relationship management ■ marketing, public relations or communications■ human resources■ law■ project management■ estates and property management.

E A/I

Essential/ Desirable

Assessment Method(s)

Skills

Ability to work in a collaborative manner, reaching consensus, debating constructively and accepting collective responsibility E A/I

Ability to assimilate complex information and use this to offer constructive challenge E I

Awareness of equality and inclusion issues and the ability to articulate and to challenge around these issues E I

Excellent communication skills (the ability to participate in constructive debate, express a point of view in an articulate manner and demonstrate critical listening skills)

E I

Ability to commit sufficient time to the role E A/I

Prepared to represent the University in a positive way to internal and external stakeholders E I

A = ApplicationI = Interview

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A track record of achievement in an academic career and/or the leadership and management of a higher education institution

Higher education expertise and an awareness of the operational issues of managing and leading a higher education institution

E

A/I

A/I

Please submit a cover letter and CV outlining your suitability for the role with reference to the person specification. These should be sent to Miriam Lakin by email: governance@northampton.ac.uk

Should you be called for an interview, you will be asked to provide the contact details of two people who could give a statement in support of your application.

How to apply

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