University Education Committee
University Education Committee was established in 1994 as an overarching quality assurance committee for educational matters. It reports to Senate.
Shortcuts: Purpose | Terms of Reference | Membership | Quorum | Mode of operation and agenda setting | Meeting dates | Sub-committees
Purpose
The main purposes of University Education Committee, on behalf of Senate and in partnership with staff and students, are to:
- Shape and define the University's vision for education, making decisions and maintaining strategic oversight of education.
- Consider and respond to changes in the external and internal education environment.
- Promote innovation to enhance learning, teaching and student research.
- Set priorities for educational projects and initiatives.
Terms of reference
Decision making (on behalf of Senate):
1. To develop and articulate the University's vision for education enhancement, assurance and innovation via the University’s Education and Student Experience Sub-strategy and maintain oversight of its delivery.
2. To make decisions on educational priorities, with the aim of enhancing the academic experience for students in line with the Education and Student Experience Sub-strategy and the University's education-related risks and Strategic Performance Indicators (SPIs).
3. To make decisions and maintain strategic oversight for education, for all programmes from foundation to doctoral levels, within the context of the Education and Student Experience Strategy. This includes:
- the academic experience, academic achievement and employability of all our students;
- academic regulations, policies, codes of practice, and strategies (depending on where approval sits, this may be via a sub-committee or may be via a recommendation to Senate);
- the quality and standards of our education provision (scrutiny will be provided by the University Academic Quality Committee);
- the wider University student experience as it impacts on their academic experience and academic achievement;
- compliance with external regulatory frameworks (this may be via sub-committees).
4. To make decisions on proposals for new programmes of study (foundation, undergraduate, taught postgraduate and postgraduate research), for major modifications to existing programmes and for the suspension and withdrawal of programmes (including teaching out plans). Detailed scrutiny of proposals will be undertaken by the Academic Case Confirmation Group.
5. To make decisions, where appropriate, on proposals for external educational partnerships, collaborative arrangements and arrangements for validation of degrees offered by other institutions. Detailed scrutiny or proposals will be undertaken by University Academic Quality Committee.
6. To ensure alignment between the vision for education (as set out in the Education and Student Experience Strategy) and faculty and divisional planning through the Integrated Planning Process (IPP).
7. To make decisions on admissions policy and criteria relating to widening participation and entry tariffs.
8. To oversee engagement with any institution-level internal or external review of the University's education provision. This includes overseeing preparations for the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF).
Advisory to other committees:
9. To advise Senate on the current debates and key areas of work in the education arena and seek input on strategic institution-level education issues.
10. To advise Senate on the academic awards (excluding honourary awards) to be awarded by the University (approval of academic awards sits with Senate).
11. To advise the Board of Trustees on University compliance with the Office for Students regulatory framework as it pertains to education and the student experience.
12. To review and comment on Key University Risks that relate to education activity and advise the risk owners on actions to minimise risk (formal responsibility and oversight for risk sits with Audit and Risk Committee).
13. To advise relevant committees, including Academic Leadership Board and University Executive Board, on education priorities and initiatives, and on the infrastructure (including physical and digital environment and systems) requirements to deliver the University's vision for education.
Membership
The membership of the Committee for 2025-26 is as follows:
| Job title | Name |
|---|---|
| Pro Vice-Chancellor (Education and Students) [Chair] | Professor Tansy Jessop |
| Associate Pro Vice-Chancellor (Postgraduate Research) | Professor Harry Mellor |
| Associate Pro Vice-Chancellor (Quality Assurance and Enhancement) | Professor Kate Whittington |
| Associate Pro Vice-Chancellor (Learning and Teaching Enhancement) | Dr Mark Allinson |
| Associate Pro Vice-Chancellor (Innovation and Enhancement) | Professor Alvin Birdi |
| Faculty Associate Pro Vice-Chancellor (Education and Students) (Arts, Law and Social Sciences) | Dr James Freeman |
| Faculty Associate Pro Vice-Chancellor (Education and Students) (Health and Life Sciences) | Dr Pete Brennan |
| Faculty Associate Pro Vice-Chancellor (Education and Students) (Science and Engineering) | Professor Ki Cater |
| Bristol SU Undergraduate Education Officer | Mia Stevens |
| Bristol SU Postgraduate Education Officer | Sharan Khemlani |
| Executive Director for Education and Students | Steve Hall |
| Director of Library Services and University Librarian | Ed Fay |
| Academic Registrar | Jen Morgan |
| Director of Student Opportunity | Lucy Collins |
| Director of Education Quality and Policy | Elinor Davies |
| Director of Education Innovation | Sarah Davies |
Standing invitations are issued to:
- Associate Professor in Learning and Teaching (Ros O'Leary)
- Bristol SU Director of Impact and Influence (Cassie Agbehenu)
Quorum
The Chair (or nominee) and at least five other members of the Committee, including at least one thematic Associate Pro Vice-Chancellor and one Faculty Associate Pro Vice-Chancellor (Education and Students) (or nominee).
Mode of operation and agenda setting
The Committee will normally meet eight times a year. Chair's powers may be used between meetings of the Committee to address urgent and / or confidential matters (any action undertaken through Chair's powers will be reported to the next meeting of the Committee).
Please contact the Secretary (Kathryn Maycock) if you wish to discuss adding an item to the agenda for University Education Committee. The paper deadlines for University Education Committee are listed as part of the meeting dates however items for the agenda must be raised with the Secretary at least 3 weeks before the meeting date so that the agenda can be finalised at a pre-meeting with the Chair.
Meeting dates
| Paper deadlines | Meeting dates |
|---|---|
| Monday 15 September 2025 | Wednesday 24 September 2025 |
| Monday 27 October 2025 | Wednesday 5 November 2025 |
| Monday 24 November 2025 | Wednesday 3 December 2025 |
| Monday 12 January 2026 | Wednesday 21 January 2026 |
| Monday 23 February 2026 | Wednesday 4 March 2026 |
| Wednesday 1 April 2026 (due to Easter bank holidays) | Wednesday 15 April 2026 |
| Friday 1 May 2026 (due to May bank holiday) | Wednesday 13 May 2026 |
| Monday 1 June 2026 | Wednesday 10 June 2026 |
Sub-committees
Please see the diagram demonstrating the University Education Committee reporting structure (PDF, 119kB)