Academic Council

The remit is to advise on the future shape and structure of the academic portfolio in response to ongoing market analysis and performance analysis, and approve course developments and collaborative ventures based on criteria and financial parameters agreed by Academic Council and the Executive.

Convener: Professor Lynn Kilbride, Vice-Principal for Academic Development and Student Experience
Secretary: Laura Tucker, Academic Quality Officer

Membership, Remit and Composition

The Remit and Composition of the Academic Development Committee are contained in Organisational Regulation O4, Schedule 4.1

Minutes

The Minutes of the Academic Development Committee are not published on the web.

Meetings

• 10 September 2026
• 27 October 2026
• 9 February 2027
• 6 April 2027
• 23 June 2027

All meetings held in N204 at 9:30.

Committee Papers

Committee papers are available to members through SharePoint.

This is a Sub-Committee of the Quality Assurance and Enhancement Committee. The remit includes to consider revisions to the Academic Regulations and make recommendations to the Quality Assurance and Enhancement Committee and to promote good practice and consistency in the application of the Academic Regulations.

Convener: Ms Lucy Jack, Academic Quality Officer

Membership, Remit and Composition

The Remit and Composition of the Academic Regulations Sub-Committee are contained in Organisational Regulation O4, Annex 4.1, 1.1

Minutes

Meetings

• 7 October 2026
• 28 January 2027
• 13 April 2027

All meetings held in N204 at 9:30.

This is a Sub-Committee of the Quality Assurance and Enhancement Committee. The remit includes to inform strategic equality and diversity priorities and direction, based on robust evidence, data, involvement and consultation with the University’s Equality and Diversity Forum and other appropriate stakeholders.

Convener: To be confirmed
Secretary: Emmanuel Akerele, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Adviser

Membership, Remit and Composition

The Remit and Composition of the Academic Regulations Sub-Committee are contained in Organisational Regulation O4, 1.4

Minutes

The remit is to consider nominations for the award of Honorary Degrees.

Convener: Professor Steve Olivier, Principal and Vice-Chancellor
Secretary: Jaqui Azeem, Executive Assistant to the University Secretary

Membership, Remit and Composition

The Remit and Composition of the Honorary Degrees and Appointments Committee are contained in Organisational Regulation O4, Schedule 4.2

Meetings & Minutes

The Honorary Degrees and Appointments Committee meets on an ad hoc basis.

The Minutes of the Honorary Degrees and Appointments Committee are not published on the web.

Committee Papers

Committee papers are not circulated on the web.

Academic Regulation

Past Recipients

Nominations

Nominations can be made by all staff and members of the Academic Council, Board of Governors and the Honorary Degrees and Appointments Committee only.

This group reports to the Academic Development Committee.

Convener: Professor Lynn Kilbride, Vice-Principal for Student Experience and Academic Development
Secretary: Faye-Marie Adams

Membership

Meetings

• 2 October 2025
• 16 December 2025
• 4 March 2026
• 23 June 2026

All meetings will be held at 14:00.

The remit is to consider policy matters and practice relating to teaching, learning and assessment and the enhancement of the student experience, including equality and diversity, and to develop and appraise the effectiveness of the University’s quality assurance processes and mechanisms for maintaining the academic standards.

Convener: Professor Lynn Kilbride, Vice-Principal for Student Experience and Academic Development
Secretary: Fiona McLean Whyte, Academic Quality Lead

Membership, Remit and Composition

The Remit and Composition of the Quality Assurance and Enhancement Committee are contained in Organisational Regulation O4, Schedule 4.3.

Minutes

Meetings

• 17 September 2026
• 3 November 2026
• 16 February 2027
• 11 May 2027

All meetings will commence at 14:00 on campus in N204, Sir Ian Wood Building.

The remit is to support the Vice-Principal for Research and Head of the Graduate School in developing and enhancing the University’s Graduate School and provision of research degree programmes.

Convener: Professor Sarah Pedersen, Dean, Graduate School
Secretary: Dr Gillian Lyon, Research Degrees Quality Officer

Membership, Remit and Composition

Details of Remit and Composition of the Standing Committees are contained in Organisational Regulation O4.

Minutes

These Minutes contain reserved business and therefore are not posted on the website.

Meetings

• 15 October 2026
• 19 January 2027
• 22 April 2027
• 17 June 2027

All meetings to be held at 14:00 in N204.

Committee Papers

These papers are not published on the web as they contain reserved business.

This is a Sub-Committee of the Research Committee. The remit includes to oversee the implementation of a research governance quality management system for the University and the maintenance and enhancement of ethical standards in the conduct of research (including consultancy and professional practice) undertaken by employees and students of the University.

Convener: Professor Nick Fyfe, Vice-Principal for Research and Community Engagement
Secretary: Mrs Fiona McLean Whyte, Deputy Academic Registrar

Membership, Remit and Composition

Standing Committees will from time to time establish Sub-Committees in order to assist them in undertaking their remits. 

The Remit and Composition of the Research Integrity and Ethics Sub-Committee are contained in Organisational Regulation O4, Annex 4.1

Sub-Committees, their memberships and Conveners will be reviewed not less than every three years.

Membership - to be confirmed.

Minutes

These Minutes contain Reserved Business and are not posted on the website.

Meetings

• 6 October 2026
• 26 January 2027
• 6 April 2027

All meetings will be held in N204 at 13:00.

Ethics Procedures

The following information is available through Commercial Operations Support:

The remit is to advise the university on the appropriate strategic direction, priorities & activities in order to be internationally, nationally & regionally recognised for excellence in translational research, enterprise and innovation in key thematic areas and to demonstrate tangible success in applying that research for the benefit of the wider community and the university’s course portfolio

Convener: Professor Nick Fyfe, Vice-Principal for Research and Community Engagement
Secretary: Mrs Fiona McLean Whyte, Deputy Academic Registrar

Membership, Remit and Composition

The Remit and Composition of the Research Knowledge Exchange and Innovation Committee are contained in Organisational Regulation O4, Schedule 4.4

Minutes

The minutes of the Research Knowledge Exchange and Innovation Committee are not published on the website.

Meetings

• 29 October 2026
• 18 February 2027
• 6 May 2027

All meetings will be held at 14:00 in N204.

The Academic Boards monitor, review and agree action relating to the operation, management, quality assurance and development of the School’s academic portfolio and subject base. This includes ensuring the effective implementation of University policy in respect of quality enhancement, including teaching, learning and assessment policy.

Remit and Composition

The Remit and Composition of School Academic Boards are contained in Organisational Regulation 05.

For membership/distribution lists and copies of minutes, please contact the secretary of the relevant board.

For dates of meetings, please see the joint Sub-committee Calendar.

Aberdeen Business School

• Convener: Dr Jo Royle
• Secretary: Claire Parker

Gray's School of Art

• Convener: Professor Dan Allen
• Secretary: Elaine MacPherson

School of Computing, Engineering and Technology

• Convener: Dr John Isaacs
• Secretary: Shona Clark

School of Health

• Convener: Laura Binnie
• Secretary: Lynn McKenzie

School of Law and Social Sciences

• Convener: John Clifford
• Secretary: Debbie Banner

School of Pharmacy, Applied Sciences and Public Health

• Convener: Professor Susie Walsh
• Secretary: Holly Paisley

Scott Sutherland School of Architecture and the Built Environment

• Convener: Professor Dan Allen (Interim Convenor)
• Secretary: Helen Aggasild

Good Practice Guidance for Conveners and Secretaries

The Good Practice Guidance for Conveners and Secretaries has been developed to provide Conveners and Secretaries with useful information, including the preparation of agendas and minutes, in relation to School Academic Boards, Course/Programme Management Teams and Staff Student Liaison.

The remit is to consider, on behalf of Academic Council, any appeals by students against decisions of Assessment Boards or, in the case of students registered for research degrees, against decisions of examiners or the Research Degrees Committee, or appeals in respect of misconduct, and to take the action that it considers to be appropriate and in accordance with Academic Regulations.

Remit and Composition

The Remit and Composition of the Student Appeals Committee are contained in Organisational Regulation O4, Schedule 4.6.

Minutes

The Minutes of the Student Appeals Committee are not published on the web.

This is a Sub-Committee of the Quality Assurance and Enhancement Committee. The remit includes oversight of the quality of the student experience in respect of both academic, co-curricular and extra-curricular provision and services, the development of policies and practice to enhance the student experience, and the review and monitoring of the effectiveness of services.

Co-Conveners: Jill Stevenson, Director of Student Life and Julie Strachan, Director of Academic Quality and Learning Enhancement
Secretary: Mrs Alison Smart, Academic Quality Officer

Membership, Remit and Composition

The Remit and Composition of the Student Experience Sub-Committee are contained in Organisational Regulation O4, Annex 4.1, 1.2.

Minutes

Meetings

• 14 October 2026
• 26 January 2027
• 8 April 2027

All meetings will be held in H230.