Public Affairs Standing Committee - Reports

The Public Affairs Standing Committee held its first meeting of the 2024-25 academic year on Tuesday, 22 October. This was my first meeting as the new Convener of the Committee and we also welcomed a new member of the Business Committee, Tamara Raidt. The main item on our agenda was to discuss and agree the Committee's workplan for the coming year.

The remit of the Committee is set out in the relevant Constitutional Arrangements and includes: 

(1) developing the General Council's communications strategy, through a variety of means including social media and events; 

(2) engaging with General Council members in collaboration with the University's Development and Alumni Department with a view to encouraging alumni participation in the life of the University and the work of the General Council; and 

(3) supporting University engagement with the wider community.

The Committee identified the key activities it plans to pursue that fall under the three areas of its remit. 

Under the Communications Strategy, the Committee is focused on the production of the Winter Billet that will be distributed to alumni in early December and is finalising plans for the General Council’s Half Yearly Meeting on 15 February 2025. We are keen to work effectively with the University Rector who, by our Constitution, normally chairs Half Yearly Meetings. Simon Fanshawe will also be the keynote speaker at the lunch in the Playfair Library after the meeting in February. Beforehand, there will be opportunity to hear the University Principal, Professor Sir Peter Mathieson, present his Annual Report and to ask questions. We hope that the meeting will be well attended - in person and online. Further details will be given in Billet.

Given the increasing costs of producing and distributing Billet, particularly the hard copies, the Committee is giving consideration to other effective means of communicating with General Council members.

The Committee is also keen to explore different ways of engaging with General Council members. In doing so, it will continue to liaise with colleagues in the Development and Alumni Department. Consideration is being given to conducting a focused survey of alumni who are resident in Edinburgh and surrounding areas to ascertain their views on the types of events that would be of interest to them and ways in which alumni participation can be enhanced. 

This engagement proposal also links to the Committee's ideas for engagement with the wider community, and the Committee is exploring ways in which it can play a role in enhancing the "Town and Gown' relationship. It aims to establish stronger working links for a mutually beneficial relationship which will cover areas that concern both the City and the University and which affect students and staff.

I look forward to updating you on the Committee's work over the academic year.

Professor Alice Brown

Convener

Public Affairs Standing Committee

November 2024