• Minutes of the School Board held on 22 January 2025

• Minutes of the School Board held on 19 March 2025

• Minutes of the School Board held on 21 May 2025

• Minutes of the School Board held on 1 October 2025

Strategic Change Management Programmes:

• The move to Canvas has generally been positively received.
• The Future Foundations project (for modernising finance and HR systems across the University) is on the horizon and early indications are that an appropriate change management infrastructure has been put in place.
• Action: Follow up in January on SEP evaluation report recommendations.

Draft Terms of Reference and Ways of Working:

• Discussions and Padlet-composed feedback on the School Board's terms of reference, general purpose and suggestions for improving how the meetings are run

Action: Present revised terms of reference and ways of working in January for approval.

Key Performance Indicators:

• Discussions on baseline levels and greater granularity of suggested KPIs.
• Concerns about the removal of the advisory board development KPI and digital infrastructure clarity.

Staff Engagement Survey:

• Key themes include harassment,  clarity about academic line management, and change management.
• Action: Leads identified for each area.

Head of School Dashboard:

• Impact of a potential 6% levy on international students and the need to grow flexible learning offers.

Student Representative Update:

• Concern raised about the proposed 6% levy on international student fees and valuing the contribution of international students to AMBS and the wider University

Senate Update:

• Main issue was the debate on cuts to modern languages provision in Humanities and to perceived low-income generating courses as part of the Teaching Sustainability Project.

Diversity and Inclusion:

• Concerns about the depth of the School's commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion in view of low representation of Global Majority faculty at external events and in senior leadership roles at AMBS
• Action: A considered response to the comments made at the meeting will be provided by the senior leadership team.

Any Other Business:

• Clarification on WAM and marking arrangements.
• Action: Respond to outstanding concerns.
• IT issues regarding personal equipment restrictions.

• Minutes of the School Board held on 14 January 2026

AMBS KPIs / Measures of Success

• Updated “Measures of Success” document shared by Sarah Featherstone - 10 measures aligned with the Manchester 2035 strategy.
• Each measure now has an assigned owner; future work will focus on reporting and updates.

Strategic Change Management Programmes

i. Student Experience Programme (SEP)

Update deferred to the March meeting to report on AMBS implementation of review recommendations.

ii. Flexible Learning Programme (including Canvas)

• A Canvas feedback survey will be sent at end of Semester 2.
• Discussion noted support received in Semester 1 and confirmed continued support for Semester 2.
• Canvas Confidence event and Faculty support will be recirculated.

iii. Future Foundations

• AMBS expected to adopt new technology “out of the box,” reducing customisation.
• Benefits include improved data quality, self‑service access, and better integration (e.g., expenses, annual leave).

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion: Cultural Intelligence at AMBS

• Toyin Dosumu shared progress on belonging and inclusion initiatives, with ongoing work following workshops.
• Concerns raised about under‑representation of BAME academics in senior leadership; actions planned, including collaboration with the British Black Initiative.
• Follow‑on EDI session scheduled for 27 Feb 2026.

Updated Terms of Reference

• Updated School Board Terms of Reference were approved (Proposed: Sheena Johnson; Seconded: Stuart Wells).

Draft Normative Criteria for Programme Development

• Jenn Hallam presented draft criteria to improve assurance around programme development and withdrawals.
• Aim: streamline processes, provide more autonomy to schools, and improve communication with central T&L teams.
• Acknowledgement that current programme approval processes can be slow; upcoming review planned.

Your Voice Matters (Staff Engagement Survey)

Focusing on: Belonging, Academic Line Management, Communicating Change

• Belonging initiatives: draft action plan in development following focus groups; more groups planned.
• Academic line management: intention to improve wellbeing conversations and provide adequate leadership training.
• Communicating change: emphasis on clearer, more personalised communication around university-wide changes.

Head of School Dashboard Report (Ken McPhail)

• AMBS has strong financial fundamentals but must continue strengthening student recruitment.
• Need to differentiate programmes and leverage the new 2035 strategy for innovation.
• Research priorities: more grant submissions (8% target) and high‑quality publications; publication attribution depends on PURE data.

Senate Update

• Concerns raised about declining research income and challenges with specialist discipline citations.
• Discussion on SEATS attendance monitoring, freedom of speech expectations, and the role of AI in assessment.
• Ongoing focus on governance across the University.

• Minutes of the School Board held on 18 March 2026

Welcome

• Naomi welcomed attendees and introduced Phillipa Hird, Chair of the UoM Board of Governors, who is keen to learn more about the school community and take questions.
• Minutes from 14 January 2026 were approved.
• Naomi confirmed her reappointment as School Board Chair from August 2026; Festival of Business confirmed for Semester 1 next year with a strong EDI focus.

Management of Strategic Change Programmes Update

• Future Foundations / M365 Copilot Workshops held for academic and PS colleagues to test Future Foundations and provide feedback.
• Collaboration ongoing with Humanities Business Change colleagues; School Board update planned for May ahead of a November 2026 launch.
• Concerns noted around slow processes, Copilot licensing guidance, and reservations raised at Senate.

Student Experience Programme (SEP) Final Report

• SEP report updated following feedback; focus on what “good change” looks like in practice.
• Emphasis on keeping AMBS approaches current and improving how change is communicated.
• SEP aligned with Manchester 2035, with a challenge to Professional Services to increase agility.

Group Discussion: Collegial PS–Academic Working Relationships

• Strong examples of collaboration in Executive Education, with further training planned.
• Centralisation, generic inboxes, and hybrid working seen as barriers to building relationships.
• Reduced informal interactions and lack of shared operating models affect mutual understanding.

Head of School Dashboard Report

• Ongoing focus on staff and students affected by the Middle East conflict and financial uncertainty.
• Shift in international recruitment from PGR to UG; research quality and income remain priorities.
• Chris Garnett appointed Director of Partnerships; major new £5m Bank of New York partnership announced.

Student Representatives Report

• PGR, PGT, and MBA representatives reported very positive experiences and strong engagement with leadership.
• Students feel listened to, well represented, and can see actions being taken.
• Educate MCR report available for deeper insight into student experience themes.

Senate Update

• Significant change underway, including Research Institutes and anti-racism in the curriculum.
• Increase in student appeals, complaints, and disciplinary cases.
• Continued confusion around Copilot; growing financial pressures on students noted.

Your Voice Matters (Staff Survey)

• Naomi encouraged high participation in the annual staff survey.
• Early response rates: PS 40%, Academic 20%, Research 10%.
• Improving response rates highlighted as a priority.

Pre-Submitted Questions

• No pre-submitted questions were received.

Any Other Business

• Phillipa Hird welcomed the 10-year University strategy and its focus on major challenges.
• Positive feedback on Future Foundations, PS–Academic relationships, dashboards, and the BNY partnership.
• Emphasis on better understanding student experience and strengthening customer service.