Common use of Corporate Strategy Clause in Contracts

Corporate Strategy. One of our main core values ‘confronting inequality, celebrating diversity’ has and continues to set the context for much of our work. The publication of the new Corporate Strategy for the period 2004-2009 continues this by commitment to the following Corporate Objectives: • Widening participation, achievement and social inclusion • Enhancing the Distinct Learner Experience • Working and learning in a diverse community • A University at the heart of its community Our commitment to achieving inclusion does not just limit itself to the admissions process, we are fully committed to ensuring that students are supported in a manner that is appropriate for their own circumstance, to ensure that retention rates are good, and students from all backgrounds have the same chance of success. To this end, the University is now in the process of reviewing and redefining its Academic Policy, which will support the delivery of the Corporate Strategy for the same period, up to 2009. The vision is for an expanding and vibrant University, with a curriculum that addresses the needs of existing and new stakeholders through the embedding of the new ‘three cycle model’ 2. As previously stated, the University is already able to demonstrate a successful track record with regard to raising participation levels, but realises that there is still progress to be made to continue to demonstrate its commitment to inclusiveness, social inclusion and raising the performance of the local region and its economy. We will continue to pursue this by: 1 Number of graduates taking up employment or further study divided by the number with a known destination , including employment which normally recruits graduates and adjusted for the institutional subject mix 2 Which will facilitate expansion of the curriculum • Ensuring that the University’s success in widening participation, completion rates and employability of students remains amongst the best in the UK HE sector. • Providing student support and guidance services of the highest quality • Establishing Lifelong Learning Networks We are therefore keen to safeguard our current success at attracting, retaining and equipping students from the most under represented groups. The following sections of this document set out our approach and plans for the next five years. In accordance with the terms of the Higher Education ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ the University of Bradford plans to use the facility for charging variable tuition fees at a level above the current regulated amount from the academic year 2006/7. The University’s position on the level of fees is attached as Annex 1 to this agreement. The University reserves the option as part of our fees policy to adopt a market sensitive approach, to the fee level set. This approach will be incorporated into our review and monitoring mechanisms of both our Corporate and Financial Strategies, outlined on page 11 of this document. Full information on any material changes will be communicated to Offa, as appropriate. The 2003/04-entry profile showed that the breakdown of full-time home students in relation to the receipt of fees support is currently: Household income £0-£20,970 receiving full support (50%) Household income £20,970 - £31,230, receiving partial support (11%) Household income above £31,230 or no application for fees support (39%) As can be seen from the above, this is considerably above the national average of 30%, for those who receive full fee support, a reflection of our existing successful position relating to widening participation. We expect that the profile for 2004/05 entrants will continue this trend with an increase in those eligible for full support through the Higher Education Grant. We are using this information as a proxy to aid our planning, in the absence of any other more appropriate data, for information only at this stage and not a direct statement on student financial means. Nevertheless, we are fully committed to the provision of minimum standard bursaries of £300 per academic year, from 2006/07 to all those who are eligible for the full Higher Education Grant. Based on our current student participation the University expects to spend a greater proportion of additional fee income on bursaries than most other universities with over 50% of students likely to qualify for the maximum grant. The University bursary scheme will comprise two strands both qualifying for a minimum bursary of at least £300 for each year of their course.

Corporate Strategy. One of our main core values ‘confronting inequality, celebrating diversity’ has and continues to set the context for much of our work. The publication of the new Corporate Strategy for the period 2004-2009 continues this by commitment to the following Corporate Objectives: • Widening participation, achievement and social inclusion • Enhancing the Distinct Learner Experience • Working and learning in a diverse community • A University at the heart of its community Our commitment to achieving inclusion does not just limit itself to the admissions process, we are fully committed to ensuring that students are supported in a manner that is appropriate for their own circumstance, to ensure that retention rates are good, and students from all backgrounds have the same chance of success. To this end, the University is now in the process of reviewing and redefining its Academic Policy, which will support the delivery of the Corporate Strategy for the same period, up to 2009. The vision is for an expanding and vibrant University, with a curriculum that addresses the needs of existing and new stakeholders through the embedding of the new ‘three cycle model’ 2. As previously stated, the University is already able to demonstrate a successful track record with regard to raising participation levels, but realises that there is still progress to be made to continue to demonstrate its commitment to inclusiveness, social inclusion and raising the performance of the local region and its economy. We will continue to pursue this by: 1 Number of graduates taking up employment or further study divided by the number with a known destination , including employment which normally recruits graduates and adjusted for the institutional subject mix 2 Which will facilitate expansion of the curriculum • Ensuring that the University’s success in widening participation, completion rates and employability of students remains amongst the best in the UK HE sector. • Providing student support and guidance services of the highest quality • Establishing Lifelong Learning Networks We are therefore keen to safeguard our current success at attracting, retaining and equipping students from the most under represented groups. The following sections of this document set out our approach and plans for the next five years. In accordance with the terms of the Higher Education ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ Act 2004 the University of Bradford plans to use the facility for charging variable tuition fees at a level above the current regulated amount from the academic year 2006/7. The University’s position on the level of fees for 2008/09 is attached as Annex 1 to this agreement. The University reserves the option as part of our fees policy to adopt a market sensitive approach, to the fee level set. This approach will be incorporated into our review and monitoring mechanisms of both our Corporate and Financial Strategies, outlined on page 11 of this document. Full information on any material changes will be communicated to Offa, as appropriate. The University will establish a Learning Support Fund, which will be created using an element of the additional fee income. The Learning Support Fund which will include our commitment to the minimum standard bursary is estimated to be approximately 30% of projected additional fee income (see page 9). This will recognise that sometimes students have financial difficulties in learning and will provide additional flexibility to support student need. In addition to the provision of individual custom support packages the Learning Support fund will be used to support the Access Strand of the bursary scheme, which will support our Bradford University Academy Students. We have not set a maximum limit on the amount of support that can be received in terms of the level of bursary, as we would wish to assess individuals on the basis of need, and would not wish to be constrained. It will also provide needs based support to other under represented students, such as those with disabilities. This fund will also support actions to expand the number and range of externally funded scholarships, through the development of a pro-active strategy and will support the development of enhanced financial information provision to students to ensure that they are fully aware of the costs of studying at Bradford and the support available to them. The 2003/04-entry profile showed that the breakdown of full-time home students in relation to the receipt of fees support is currentlywas: Household income £0-£20,970 0 - £20,970 receiving full support (50%) Household income £20,970 - £31,230, receiving partial support (11%) Household income above £31,230 or no application for fees support (39%) As can be seen from the above, this is considerably above the national average of 30%, for those who receive full fee support, a reflection of our existing successful position relating to widening participation. We expect that the profile The profiles for 2004/05 and 2005/06 entrants will continue have continued this trend with an increase in those eligible for 51% of students receiving full support through the Higher Education Grantand 19% receiving partial support in 2004/05; and 56% of students receiving full support and 17% receiving partial support in 2005/06. We are using have used this information as a proxy to aid our planning, in the absence of any other more appropriate data, for information only at this stage and not a direct statement on student financial means. Nevertheless, we are fully committed to the provision of minimum standard bursaries of £300 per academic year, from 2006/07 2006/07, to all those who are eligible for the full Higher Education GrantMaintenance Grant (rising to £305 in 2007/08 and £310 in 2008/09). In addition, students receiving a partial grant will also be considered for the minimum standard bursary. Annex 2 shows the University of Bradford Bursary Scheme for 2006/07 and 2007/08 and the proposed scheme for 2008/09. Based on our current student participation the University expects to spend a greater proportion of additional fee income on bursaries than most other universities with over 50% of students likely to qualify for the maximum grant. The University bursary scheme package will comprise two strands both qualifying for a minimum bursary of at least £300 for each year of their course.strands: