1994 Group - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

The 1994 Group is a coalition of 19 top "smaller research-intensive universities

University

A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university is an organisation that provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education...

" in the United Kingdom founded in 1994 to defend their interests following the creation of the Russell Group

Russell Group

The Russell Group is a collaboration of twenty UK universities that together receive two-thirds of research grant and contract funding in the United Kingdom. It was established in 1994 to represent their interests to the government, parliament and other similar bodies...

by larger research-intensive universities earlier that year. The 1994 Group represents nineteen of the UK’s leading research-intensive universities, including many of those founded in the 1960s; around half of the top twenty universities in UK national newspaper league tables are 1994 Group members.

The 1994 Group members describe themselves as "internationally recognised universities in Britain, who share common aims, standards and values".

The group states that it is "established to promote excellence in research and teaching. To enhance student and staff experience within our universities and to set the agenda for higher education". Its aim is to provide "a central vehicle to help members promote their common interests in higher education, respond efficiently to key policy issues, and share best methods and practice". The million+ membership group, the University Alliance

University Alliance

The University Alliance is a group of 23 British universities which focus mainly on business.As major providers of professional and postgraduate education, Alliance universities work with 27% of all UK students.-Members:...

and the Russell Group

Russell Group

are its fellow university membership groups across the higher education sector.

Overview

The 1994 Group highlight 3 key distinguishing features/ strengths of their members:

High quality, internationally renowned research
Research-led teaching
High levels of student experience

1994 Group universities achieved excellent results in the Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) 2008. 57% of the 1994 Group’s research is rated 4* world-leading or 3* internationally excellent.

Research-led teaching is central to the 1994 Group’s mission. A large proportion of the top academics who achieved the Group’s results in RAE 2008 teach students.

In the annual National Student Survey the majority of the top 10 universities rated on student satisfaction are 1994 Group members every year. The Group’s aggregate performance substantially exceeds the sector as a whole.

According to the 'Patterns 3' report by Universities UK

Universities UK

Universities UK began life as the Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals of the Universities of the United Kingdom in the nineteenth century when there were informal meetings involving Vice-Chancellors of a number of universities and Principals of university colleges...

, "The Russell Group and the 1994 Group share many features, but are distinguished chiefly by the fact that most members of the Russell Group have medical schools, and an emphasis on science and technology. Within the Russell Group a small number of institutions are outliers on the basis of the statistical information available, and if these were excluded from the analysis, the Russell Group and the 1994 Group would show very similar characteristics." It should be noted that several of the 1994 Group institutions also have medical schools and an emphasis on science and technology, so this is not a clear distinguishing feature of the Russell group.

Aims

The 1994 groups aims are:

Maximise the groups influence in policy making and decision by increasing the visibility of the group
Attract the highest calibre of students and staff through international awareness of member institutions
Maximising income to the members through teaching and research excellence
Co-operate on practices that increase student and staff experience
Collaborate to create services that allow members to adapt rapidly and flexibly with the dynamic market of higher education

Further to these aims the group has a set of shared values; that maintaining traditions and cutting-edge research are not mutually exclusive; internationally recognised universities ought to have a role and contribute on all scales; high quality research should be supported with high quality teaching and all students and staff from any background should be able to develop in a conducive atmosphere and environment that maximises their potential.

Members

Institution	Location	Established	Gained university status	Vice-chancellor	Total Number of Students	Research Funding (£,000)
University of Bath University of Bath The University of Bath is a campus university located in Bath, United Kingdom. It received its Royal Charter in 1966....	Bath	1966	1966	Professor Glynis Breakwell Glynis Breakwell Professor Glynis M. Breakwell PhD, DSc, LLD C.Psychol, FBPsS, FRSA, AcSS is the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Bath in Bath, England, United Kingdom.Professor Breakwell is a member of the South West Science and Industry Council.-External links:*...	14,795	18,355
Birkbeck, University of London Birkbeck, University of London Birkbeck, University of London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the federal University of London. It offers many Master's and Bachelor's degree programmes that can be studied either part-time or full-time, though nearly all teaching is...	London	1823	1920	Professor David Latchman David Latchman David Seymour Latchman CBE is a British geneticist and university administrator. Since 2003 he has been Master of Birkbeck, University of London, and Professor of Genetics at Birkbeck and University College London....	19,020	9,985
Durham University Durham University The University of Durham, commonly known as Durham University, is a university in Durham, England. It was founded by Act of Parliament in 1832 and granted a Royal Charter in 1837...	Durham Durham Durham is a city in north east England. It is within the County Durham local government district, and is the county town of the larger ceremonial county...	1832	1832	Professor Chris Higgins Chris Higgins (academic) Chris Higgins is, since April 2007, the Vice-Chancellor of Durham University. He was previously the director of the MRC Clinical Sciences Centre and Head of Division in the Faculty of Medicine at Imperial College London....	17,320	25,511
University of East Anglia University of East Anglia The University of East Anglia is a public research university based in Norwich, United Kingdom. It was established in 1963, and is a founder-member of the 1994 Group of research-intensive universities.-History:...	Norwich Norwich Norwich is a city in England. It is the regional administrative centre and county town of Norfolk. During the 11th century, Norwich was the largest city in England after London, and one of the most important places in the kingdom...	1963	1963	Professor Edward Acton Edward Acton (academic) The Hon Edward David Joseph Lyon-Dalberg-Acton FRHistS is a British academic and current Vice-Chancellor of the University of East Anglia....	19,585	16,482
University of Essex University of Essex The University of Essex is a British campus university whose original and largest campus is near the town of Colchester, England. Established in 1963 and receiving its Royal Charter in 1965...	Colchester Colchester Colchester is an historic town and the largest settlement within the borough of Colchester in Essex, England.At the time of the census in 2001, it had a population of 104,390. However, the population is rapidly increasing, and has been named as one of Britain's fastest growing towns. As the...	1964	1964	Professor Colin Riordan	11,690	9,967
University of Exeter University of Exeter The University of Exeter is a public university in South West England. It belongs to the 1994 Group, an association of 19 of the United Kingdom's smaller research-intensive universities....	Exeter Exeter Exeter is a historic city in Devon, England. It lies within the ceremonial county of Devon, of which it is the county town as well as the home of Devon County Council. Currently the administrative area has the status of a non-metropolitan district, and is therefore under the administration of the...	1855	1955	Professor Steve Smith Steve Smith (academic) Sir Steven Murray Smith, AcSS is an international relations theorist, academic, and senior university manager.In October 2002 he succeeded Geoffrey Holland as Vice-Chancellor of the University of Exeter, and from 2009-2011 was the President of Universities UK.-Early life:He attended the City of...	14,630	18,378
Goldsmiths, University of London	London	1891	1904	Dr Pat Loughrey Pat Loughrey Stephen Victor Patrick Loughrey is the Warden of Goldsmiths, University of London.-Early life:Loughrey was born in 1955 and grew up in County Donegal, part of the Province of Ulster in Ireland. He lived in the townland of Ray , on the shores of Lough Swilly. He attended Loreto College in Milford,...	7,615	8,539
University of Lancaster	Lancaster Lancaster, Lancashire Lancaster is the county town of Lancashire, England. It is situated on the River Lune and has a population of 45,952. Lancaster is a constituent settlement of the wider City of Lancaster, local government district which has a population of 133,914 and encompasses several outlying towns, including...	1964	1964	Professor Paul Wellings Paul Wellings (Lancaster University) Professor Paul William Wellings is an English ecologist and academic administrator. He is the current Vice-Chancellor of Lancaster University, Chair of the 1994 Group of smaller research-intesive universities and is a member of the Board of the Higher Education Funding Council for England.Born in...	12,695	18,640
University of Leicester University of Leicester The University of Leicester is a research-led university based in Leicester, England. The main campus is a mile south of the city centre, adjacent to Victoria Park and Wyggeston and Queen Elizabeth I College....	Leicester Leicester Leicester is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England, and the county town of Leicestershire. The city lies on the River Soar and at the edge of the National Forest...	1921	1957	Professor Robert Burgess Robert Burgess (professor) Sir Robert George Burgess, AcSS is Vice-Chancellor of the University of Leicester. A sociologist by training, Burgess was appointed Vice-Chancellor in 1999, succeeding Ken Edwards...	16,160	22,225
Institute of Education, University of London Institute of Education The Institute of Education is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom specialised in postgraduate study and research in the field of education and a constituent college of the federal University of London. It is the largest education research body in the United Kingdom, with...	London	1902	1932	Professor Chris Husbands	7,215	7,734
Queen Mary, University of London Queen Mary, University of London Queen Mary, University of London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the federal University of London...	London	1885	1907	Professor Simon Gaskell	16,000	32,194
Loughborough University Loughborough University Loughborough University is a research based campus university located in the market town of Loughborough, Leicestershire, in the East Midlands of England...	Loughborough Loughborough Loughborough is a town within the Charnwood borough of Leicestershire, England. It is the seat of Charnwood Borough Council and is home to Loughborough University...	1909	1966	Professor Shirley Pearce Shirley Pearce Professor Shirley Pearce CBE BA MPhil PhD is Vice-Chancellor of Loughborough University, a position she has held since January 2006, and will resign at the end of the 2011-2012 academic year. Before becoming the University's 7th Vice-Chancellor Professor Pearce was a Professor of Health Psychology...	17,825	22,398
University of Reading University of Reading The University of Reading is a university in the English town of Reading, Berkshire. The University was established in 1892 as University College, Reading and received its Royal Charter in 1926. It is based on several campuses in, and around, the town of Reading.The University has a long tradition...	Reading Reading, Berkshire Reading is a large town and unitary authority area in England. It is located in the Thames Valley at the confluence of the River Thames and River Kennet, and on both the Great Western Main Line railway and the M4 motorway, some west of London....	1892	1926	Professor Tony Downes (acting)	22,805	18,387
Royal Holloway, University of London Royal Holloway, University of London Royal Holloway, University of London is a constituent college of the University of London. The college has three faculties, 18 academic departments, and about 8,000 undergraduate and postgraduate students from over 130 different countries...	Egham Egham Egham is a wealthy suburb in the Runnymede borough of Surrey, in the south-east of England. It is part of the London commuter belt and Greater London Urban Area, and about south-west of central London on the River Thames and near junction 13 of the M25 motorway.-Demographics:Egham town has a...	1849	1900	Professor Paul Layzell (Principal)	7,620	13,699
School of Oriental and African Studies School of Oriental and African Studies The School of Oriental and African Studies is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the University of London...	London	1916	1916	Professor Paul Webley Paul Webley Professor Paul Webley is Director and Principal of the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London. He is a member of the Editorial Board of the Journal of Economic Psychology and former President of the International Association for Research in Economic Psychology.He received his...	4,525	7,238
University of St Andrews University of St Andrews The University of St Andrews, informally referred to as "St Andrews", is the oldest university in Scotland and the third oldest in the English-speaking world after Oxford and Cambridge. The university is situated in the town of St Andrews, Fife, on the east coast of Scotland. It was founded between...	St Andrews St Andrews St Andrews is a university town and former royal burgh on the east coast of Fife in Scotland. The town is named after Saint Andrew the Apostle.St Andrews has a population of 16,680, making this the fifth largest settlement in Fife....	1413	1413	Dr Louise Richardson Louise Richardson Professor Louise Richardson FRSE is a political scientist whose specialist field is the study of terrorism...	8,645	18,190
University of Surrey University of Surrey The University of Surrey is a university located within the county town of Guildford, Surrey in the South East of England. It received its charter on 9 September 1966, and was previously situated near Battersea Park in south-west London. The institution was known as Battersea College of Technology...	Guildford Guildford Guildford is the county town of Surrey. England, as well as the seat for the borough of Guildford and the administrative headquarters of the South East England region...	1891	1966	Professor Christopher Snowden Christopher Snowden Professor Christopher Maxwell Snowden FRS FREng FIET FIEEE FCGI is the Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive of the University of Surrey in Guildford, Surrey, United Kingdom.-Early life:...	15,935	16,113
University of Sussex University of Sussex The University of Sussex is an English public research university situated next to the East Sussex village of Falmer, within the city of Brighton and Hove. The University received its Royal Charter in August 1961....	Brighton Brighton Brighton is the major part of the city of Brighton and Hove in East Sussex, England on the south coast of Great Britain...	1961	1961	Professor Michael Farthing Michael Farthing Professor Michael Farthing is a British academic administrator, physician and medical researcher. He is the Vice Chancellor of the University of Sussex, having succeeded Professor Alasdair Smith in September 2007. Prior to his appointment as Vice Chancellor at Sussex, his academic career was in...	12,415	16,196
University of York University of York The University of York , is an academic institution located in the city of York, England. Established in 1963, the campus university has expanded to more than thirty departments and centres, covering a wide range of subjects...	York York York is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence...	1963	1963	Professor Brian Cantor	12,625	25,482

Former members

The University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology (UMIST), which merged with the Victoria University of Manchester

Victoria University of Manchester

The Victoria University of Manchester was a university in Manchester, England. On 1 October 2004 it merged with the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology to form a new entity, "The University of Manchester".-1851 - 1951:The University was founded in 1851 as Owens College,...

to form the University of Manchester

University of Manchester

The University of Manchester is a public research university located in Manchester, United Kingdom. It is a "red brick" university and a member of the Russell Group of research-intensive British universities and the N8 Group...

, was a member of the 1994 Group until October 2004. The London School of Economics

London School of Economics

The London School of Economics and Political Science is a public research university specialised in the social sciences located in London, United Kingdom, and a constituent college of the federal University of London...

was also a member until 2006, and the University of Warwick

University of Warwick

The University of Warwick is a public research university located in Coventry, United Kingdom...

until July 2008. All have now joined the Russell Group

Russell Group

Governance and management structure

The 1994 Group is headed by a Board made up of the heads of member institutions. The Board meets formally on four occasions each year. In addition, an annual residential conference takes place in the summer where longer-term strategic issues are discussed.

The Board has responsibility for determining strategy and has ultimate responsibility for all activity including the overall Communications Strategy, as well as determining the development of Group policy and agreeing all policy papers, positioning statements and consultation responses, and responsibility for the governance of all joint activity. Board members are key to the development and delivery of Group policy. Without their support, the Group is unable to function.

Chair

The Chair is elected by Board members for a three-year term of office. Professor Paul Wellings

Paul Wellings (Lancaster University)

Professor Paul William Wellings is an English ecologist and academic administrator. He is the current Vice-Chancellor of Lancaster University, Chair of the 1994 Group of smaller research-intesive universities and is a member of the Board of the Higher Education Funding Council for England.Born in...

, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lancaster, is Chair until August 2012.

The Chair is the national spokesperson for the Group and represents its interests where a senior representative of the Group is required. The Chair has overall responsibility for the development and delivery of the Communication Strategy on behalf of the Board. In this role, the Chair regularly meets with representatives of all key stakeholders bodies in a formal and informal capacity.

Advisory group

The Chair is assisted in undertaking their duties by a Chair’s Advisory Group (CAG) elected from the Board for a three year period of office (initial membership was staggered to ensure a rolling change of membership). The CAG meets on four occasions each year.
CAG members have a general brief for assisting the Chair in the development of all areas of Group policy (including management of the relationship with the Policy Groups).

The CAG has a central role in the development of relationships with Government, Funding Bodies, and HE Stakeholder Organisations. In addition, CAG members are available to speak to the media on behalf of the Group if the Chair is unavailable.

Officer level groups

In addition to the formal governance structure set out above, there are a number of other informal networking groups operating below Board level (for example, Registrars, Planning Directors, HR Directors, Librarians, and Student’s Union Presidents known as 'Unions94'). These receive no direct support from the central organisation, but exist because their members believe there is added value to be achieved by the exchange and development of best practice at Group level.

These informal networking groups play an important role in promoting the Group brand to internal stakeholders and provide important routes through which the Board or Policy Groups might test emerging policy, positioning statements or joint responses.

1994 group administration

The 1994 Group Administration is currently located in 1 Northumberland Road, Trafalgar Square, London. The Administration is made up of the following members of staff:

Executive director

The Executive Director, Paul M. Marshall, is the head of the 1994 Group Administration.

The Executive Director has central responsibility for co-ordinating all levels of Group activity and provides senior secretarial support to the Board and the CAG.

Working alongside the Chair, the Executive Director is the central point of contact between the Group and the external world and has a primary responsibility for promoting the Group to external stakeholders.

The Executive Director is ultimately responsible for the development the Group’s external profile including press co-ordination drafting and updating publicity materials and the maintenance and development of the Group website.

Director of Research

In recognition of the Executive Director’s primarily role in promoting the Group brand to external stakeholders, there is a Director, Rachel Winzer, who has primary responsibility for the promotion and development of internal Group activity.

The Director plays a central role in the management of the Group, providing cover for the Executive Director in his absence due to travel, leave or illness.

The Director has a specific remit to work with the Policy Groups in drafting policy papers, preparing position papers and collective responses to consultation exercises, and for organisation of the Group’s Annual Conference.

Director of Communications

The Director of Communications, Mark Fuller, leads the development and implementation of the 1994 Groups communications, public and media relations strategies and manages relationships with external partners.

1994 group position in league tables

1994 Group members include 10 of the top 18 universities in the UK in The Guardian University Guide League Table published on the 12th May 2009

11 of the top 25 universities in The Complete University Guide published in the Independent on the 30th April 2009

3 of the top 100 universities in the world in the QS World University Rankings 2010-2011

9 of the top 200 universities in the world in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2008.

7 of the top 10 UK universities for student satisfaction are 1994 Group Universities (2009 National Student Survey).

The Times Good University Guide 2010 league tables published on the 3rd June 2009 put 1994 Group universities top in six regions of the UK.

1994 Group ‘Enhancing the Student Experience’ project

The 1994 Group’s Student Experience Policy Group has been working on its ‘Enhancing the Student Experience’ project since Summer 2006. The ongoing project aims to identify the key issues surrounding student experience in the HE sector, to begin defining the 1994 Group’s own position in this context, and to identify potential areas for research and activity in the future.

The ‘Enhancing the Student Experience’ Policy report, launched on 28 November 2007, concludes that there are seven priority areas for the Higher Education sector to take forward in order to meet the challenges of a changing environment of student experiences and expectation. These seven priority areas are:

A requirement to provide transparent and accurate information around the student experience
Towards the 2020 Workforce: Promoting the well-rounded graduate
Promoting the student voice
Engagement with schools and colleges
Student-focused resources
International strategy and internationalisation
Excellence and enhancement in teaching and learning

The 1994 Group has made a commitment to address these challenges and will monitor their impact as the sector takes them forward. As part of this process, the Group will undertake a similar review in 2012. This will determine the impact of the recommendations set out in the 2007 policy report.

HE engagement with 14-19 reforms

In 2007, the 1994 Group undertook a research project, co-funded by the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) and the 1994 Group, into the impact on research-intensive universities of three aspects of the government’s current reforms to 14-19 education

changes to GCE A-level
the introduction of the Extended Project
the introduction of Diplomas

The report (view the report:) , titled, ‘New Foundations, Enduring Values: Undergraduate Education, Research-intensive Universities and the Government’s Reforms of 14-19 Education in England’ was published on 23 January 2008. The research found that 62% of admissions tutors in relevant undergraduate areas felt it was very likely, quite likely or possible that they would be admitting Advanced Diploma students to undergraduate courses from 2010. Among 1994 Group universities working closely with 14- 19 projects in their own localities are Lancaster, Loughborough and York

Press coverage:

BBC News 'Diploma warning from universities'
Metro 'A grade 'not enough for top places'
The Daily Telegraph 'Private school stars 'will tighten Oxbridge grip
Guardian 'Top universities fail to spend £3m set aside to attract poorer students'

Unions 94

Established in 2006, Unions 94 is a loose coalition of Students' Unions within the 1994 Group.

External links

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.

Overview

Aims

Members

Former members

Governance and management structure

Chair

Advisory group

Officer level groups

1994 group administration

Executive director

Director of Research

Director of Communications

1994 group position in league tables

1994 Group ‘Enhancing the Student Experience’ project

HE engagement with 14-19 reforms

Unions 94

See also

External links