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Freedom of information disclosure log

In the interests of transparency, Birkbeck has opted to publish basic details of all freedom of information requests received and responded to over a rolling 12-month period.

If you have any queries, please .

RefDescriptionResponse dateResponse
2022-004Student drug use21/01/2022

I am making a freedom of information request about the outcome of any investigation of class A drug use of your students (of any course) from 1 August 2021 to 7 January 2022.

  • Response: No investigations took place.
2022-025Student marking08/02/2022

How many students' marks have been changed after the submission of marksheets by markers to administrators, in order to uplift the students' degree classifications, or in response to informal requests by staff or students asking to change the students' marks, within Department of Organizational Psychology's postgraduate examination board (chaired by Almuth McDowall), in the academic years 2021-22, 2020-21, 2019-20, 2018-19, and 2017-18?

  • Response:
    • 2017-18: Discretion considered - 40; discretion awarded - 17.
    • 2018-19: Discretion considered - 30; discretion awarded - 14.
    • 2019-20: Discretion considered - 40; discretion awarded - 29.
    • 2020-21: Discretion considered - 24; discretion awarded - 20.
    • Please note that we have not differentiated between the reasons for discretion being requested (i.e. mitigating circumstances). No degree classifications have been changed post-board.
2022-016Birkbeck bar11/02/2022

1. Could you please provide me with information about the permanent or temporary closure of Birkbeck Bar, located in the main operational building (Malet Street)?

2. Please provide things such as circulars, board meetings, or executive decisions about the plans for this bar.

  • Response: The decision to close the Birkbeck Bar was due to initial COVID-19 restrictions. The re-opening of the bar has not yet been discussed. This has not been discussed in meetings.
2022-006PhD information21/02/2022

1. Is the above-cited thesis (Taiwanese planning law: a historical review and comparison with Hong Kong) the final examined PhD thesis submitted by Mr Shih?

  • Response: Yes

2. Has Mr Shih eared his PhD degree in law from Birkbeck?

  • Response: Yes

3. If yes for question (2), when was this doctoral degree awarded?

  • Response: May 2019
2022-008Staff demographics21/02/2022

1. How many British Muslim employees have you recruited? Please provide figures for every year since 2010.

2. What is the average length of service?

  • Response: The College adopted a new database in 2016, and archived records from the previous system. This means that data for 2010-16 is only available for staff still employed by Birkbeck.
    • Started between 2005 and 2015: Number of posts/persons - 16; average length of service - 8.3 years.
    • Started in 2016: Number of posts/persons - 13; average length of service - 2.1 years.
    • Started in 2017: Number of posts/persons - 25; average length of service - 1.7 years.
    • Started in 2018: Number of posts/persons - 21; average length of service - 2 years.
    • Started in 2019: Number of posts/persons - 28; average length of service - 1.4 years.
    • Started in 2020: Number of posts/persons - 21; average length of service - 0.9 years.
    • Started in 2021: Number of posts/persons - 19; average length of service - 0.5 years.

3. How many British Muslims have you employed in communications/media roles since 2010?

  • Response: Less than five.
2022-023Student accommodation21/02/2022

1. How many students have you had staying in university-run accommodation and student halls, in the last five years?

2. How much rent has the university collected year on year for university-run accommodation and student halls, in the last five years?

3. How much money has been invested in university-run accommodation and student halls for upkeep/maintenance/renovations, in the last five years?

4. How many students staying in university-run accommodation and student halls, if any, have been indebted to the university for late rent payments, in the last five years?

5. How many students staying in university-run accommodation and student halls, if any, have been evicted for missing rent payments, in the last five years?

  • Response: Birkbeck does not have university-run accommodation, or student halls.
2022-005Student drug use28/02/2022

1. How many reports have been made regarding students taking recreational drugs in the last academic five years (2016-17 to 2020-21)?

  • Response: 0

2. Can I have a breakdown of which recreational drugs these were, please?

  • Response: N/A

3. What are the steps you take after a student has been reported for recreational drug use?

  • Response: Under the Student Discipline Policy a student can be suspended while a formal investigation is ongoing, and where an allegation of student misconduct made to the College is an offence committed against the College and could be considered a criminal offence, the Academic Registrar or nominee will determine whether the incident should be reported to the police. Possible penalties include restrictions or conditions (for example, issuing a no-entry order); suspension of studies; termination of registration with or without a specified period of non-reenrolment.

4. How many students have been suspended due to recreational drug use in the last academic five years (2016-17 to 2020-21)?

  • Response: 0

5. How many students have been expelled permanently due to recreational drug use in the last academic five years (2016-17 to 2020-21)?

  • Response: 0

6. How many students have been reported for dealing recreational drugs in the last academic five years (2016-17 to 2020-21)?

  • Response: 0

7. How many staff members have been reported for taking recreational drugs in the last academic five years (2016-17 to 2020-21)?

  • Response: 0

8. What are the steps you take after a member of staff has been reported for recreational drug use?

9. How many staff members have been suspended due to recreational drug use in the last academic five years (2016-17 to 2020-21)?

  • Response: 0

10. How many staff members have been fired due to recreational drug use in the last academic five years (2016-17 to 2020-21)?

  • Response: 0
2022-009CCTV28/02/2022

1. Supplier of the contract for CCTV maintenance and support.

  • Response: Electra-Locks Limited

2. How much the organisation spends annually with the supplier (if multiple suppliers please list the annual spend for each)?

  • Response: Approximately £7,000 per year.

3. What is the expiry date of this contract?

  • Response: 31/01/2022

4. What is the duration of the contract?

  • Response: N/A (it is currently under review).

5. What is the review date of this contract? If possible the likely outcome of this review

  • Response: Currently under review, outcome unknown.

6. The primary brand of the CCTV equipment. I don’t require the model just the brand. If there is various brands could you please list?

  • Response: Some Hikivision, other older type dome cameras, DVRs etc.

7. What is the total number of cameras in use/under this contract?

  • Response: Just under 150

8. The description of the services provided under this contract. Please state if this contract includes more than just CCTV services.

  • Response: Contract is currently under review.

9. Contact details of the employee responsible for the contract between the supplier and the organisation. Can you please provide me with their full contact details:

2022-011Estates28/02/2022

1. Do any of the university buildings have central deionised water plants?

  • Response: No

2. What are the age of the central water plants?

  • Response: 20-25 years outside Malet Street. New within Malet Street.

3. Are there any plans to replace the central water plants?

  • Response: No
2022-020Grants28/02/2022

1. The value of grants made to each of the organisations listed below. Please provide the information for each of the three financial years separately, and list all grants separately.

2. The value of loans made to each of the organisations listed below. Please provide the information for each of the three financial years separately, and list all loans separately.

  • Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH)
  • Independent Sage
  • NHS Confederation
  • Keep our NHS public
  • SOS NHS
  • Care and Support Workers Organise
  • UNITED VOICES OF THE WORLD
  • Health Campaigns Together
  • Doctors for the NHS
  • We Own It
  • The People's Assembly
  • Zero Covid Coalition
  • Health Campaign Together
  • Docs Not Cops
  • British Association of Physicians of Indian Origin
  • Association of Pakistani Physicians of Northern Europe
  • Royal College of General Practitioners
  • Royal College of Ophthalmology
  • Royal College of Psychiatrists
  • Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists
  • Response: Birkbeck does not make grants or loans, and therefore has not made them to any of the organisations listed.
2022-021Ransomware28/02/2022

1. Has your university been subject to any ransomware attacks in the last 2 years?

  • Response: 0

2. If so, when did they take place?

  • Response: N/A

3. Have you paid a ransom/s in return for data stolen during a mentioned ransomware attack/s?

  • Response: N/A

4. If you've paid ransom/s, then what's the total amount you've paid?

  • Response: N/A
2022-022Past papers28/02/2022

Please may you release the following past theory and practical exam papers taken by geology undergraduates from 2015 to 2021?

  • Response: The following papers were supplied as attachments:
    • Earth's Resources and Raw Materials (May 2015, May 2016, May 2020)
    • Forensic Geology (May 2015, May 2016)
    • Geological Hazards (May 2015, May 2016, May 2019)
    • Global Tectonics (May 2016)
    • Introduction to Geochemistry (May 2015, May 2016, May 2020)
    • Introduction to Geology (May 2015, May 2016, May 2020)
    • Magmatic Processes (May 2016)
    • Palaeoclimatology (June 2015, May 2016, May 2020)
    • Palaeoecology (May 2015, May 2016)
    • Structural Geology 1 including accompanying sheets (May 2020)
    • Structural Geology 2 including accompanying sheets (May 2020)
    • Tectonic Geomorphology (May 2015, May 2016, May 2020)
2022-027Staff contact details28/02/2022

Chief Information Officer (or equivalent)

  • Response: N/A

Chief Technology Officer (or equivalent)

  • Response: N/A

Director of IT, ICT, IM&T

2022-037Research grants28/02/2022

Please can you provide me with any information you have about donations (financial or in kind), research grants/funding and loans to your institution from the companies and individuals listed below, from the start of the 2016-17 academic year until your most recent records:

Companies: Gazprom; Gazprom Neft; Rossiya; Jenn Bank; General Bank; Promsvyazbank; the Black Sea Bank; Sberbank; Aquind; Rosneft; Lukoil; Novatek; Nornickel; Yandex; Polyus; Surgutneftegas.

Individuals: Boris Rotenberg; Igor Rotenberg; Gennady Timchenko; Lubov Chernukhin; Alexander Temerko; Dmitry Leus; Lev Mikheev.

  • Response: We have not received any donations, grants, or loans from these companies or individuals.
2022-001Student demographics04/03/2022

1. Number of Chinese mainland applications and offers made (for each postgraduate programme) for the 2021 autumn admission cycles.

2. Number of all application and offers made (for each postgraduate programme) for the 2021 autumn admission cycles.

  • Response: Data provided as a spreadsheet.
2022-002Application information04/03/2022

Please can you email me, for each academic year between 2017-18 and 2021-22 inclusive, and for each master's degree qualification and other RQF Level 7 qualification offered by the University in that year, a) the number of applications and b) the number of admissions, with each number broken down into i) home students and ii) international students.

  • Response: Data provided as a spreadsheet.
2022-018Estates04/03/2022

1. The make and model of readers used.

  • Response: Salto XS Wall Reader

2. The company which manufactures/distributes the readers.

  • Response: Salto Systems

3. Any third-party installers/channel partners used to purchase the readers.

  • Response: These are available from various channel partners or from Salto directly

4. The security infrastructure provider.

  • Response: Salto Systems

5. The software used to manage the door controllers and readers.

  • Response: Salto Pro Access

6. Approximate quantity of doors at the university.

  • Response: 230 Doors

7. Name of the Head of Estates for the university.

  • Response: Daniel Xuereb
2022-031Advertising budget04/03/2022

1. What fraction of the Birkbeck University budget is dedicated to communications and PR?

  • Response: In 2020-21 approximately 0.13% was dedicated to communications and PR.

2. What fraction of Birkbeck's comms/PR budget was spent designing the "Hootie" graphic?

  • Response: In 2020-21 this would be zero, apart from some of the in-house designer's time in laying out work, which it would not be possible to calculate in terms of a fraction of the comms/PR budget as he does not keep records of his time spent on various jobs.

3. What amount of money was spent on posters/banners/window pieces which feature the "Hootie" graphic?

  • Response: During 2020-21 approximately £5,000 was spent on posters, banners and window pieces which feature the Hootie graphic. The majority of this was on COVID-related informational posters, banners and window stickers and was not charged to communications and PR budgets. We estimate that around £2,000 was charged to Marketing budgets.

4. Compared to the total communications/PR budget for Birkbeck, what do each of these costs represent?

  • Response: £2,000 represents around 2% of Birkbeck's communications and PR budget.
2022-012Graduation07/03/2022

1. Is it mandatory for distance learning Master's students of Birkbeck, University of London who have completed their studies to attend a graduation ceremony in person if they wish to graduate?

  • Response: No

2. If it is not mandatory for a distance learning master's student of Birkbeck, University of London to attend a graduation ceremony in person if they wish to graduate, what are the costs to the student to graduate if they do not attend the ceremony?

  • Response: None

3. If it is not mandatory for a distance learning master's student of Birkbeck, University of London to attend a graduation ceremony in person if they wish to graduate, is there a delay to when the student obtains the degree certificate? If so, how long is the delay?

  • Response: There is no delay.

4. If it is not mandatory for a distance learning master's student of Birkbeck, University of London to attend a graduation ceremony in person if they wish to graduate, what is the cost to a student to receive the certificate through the post to their home address?

  • Response: None.
2022-028Non-disclosure agreements10/03/2022

1. Since 1/1/2019 how many non-disclosure legal agreements have been signed between the university and (i) staff or ex-staff, (ii) students and (iii) other people.

  • Response: None

2. For each of these agreements please state (i) the year the agreement was signed, (ii) whether the person signing the agreement with the university was (a) a staff member or ex-staff member, (b) a student or (c) other person, and (iii) how much, if any money, was also paid to the person as part of the agreement.

  • Response: N/A

3. Have you signed up to a pledge NOT to use non-disclosure agreements for people making claims of bullying, harassment or sexual assault which involve your university? If so when did you sign the agreement?

  • Response: No
2022-029Development and Alumni10/03/2022

1. Email and name of the alumni relations manager or equivalent person in charge of the alumni.

  • Response: , Deputy Director of Development and Alumni. 

2. The exact number of graduates registered in your alumni association.

  • Response: 73,104. This number represents our overall alumni numbers as everyone is eligible to be part of the association. No registration is required.
2022-024Sexual assault15/03/2022

I am writing to request the number of sexual misconduct cases involving university students reported to the University.

I also require the data to include information on the following:

  • How many was investigated by yourselves.
  • How many faced disciplinary action.
  • How many were reported to the police.

For the following academic years: 2017-18, 2018-19, 2019-20, 2020-21.

To clarify both the victim and perpetrator must be or have been students.

  • Response:
    • 2017-18 - less than 5 cases (HO codes 12512 and 866), which were investigated by the College and faced disciplinary action, but were not reported to police.
    • 2018-19 - no cases.
    • 2019-20 - less than 5 cases (HO codes 12512 and 866), which were investigated by the College and faced disciplinary action, but were not reported to police.
    • 2020-21 - no cases.
2022-030Overpayment15/03/20221. What are the total funds that the university currently has, as a result of overpayments, which are due to be returned to the party who paid?
  • Response: Overpayments are calculated following a request by a student for an interruption or withdrawal from studies. We are not able to provide the current amount.
2. What period do these overpayments date back to (if possible the figures broken down into each respective year)?
  • Response: N/A
3. What is the total number of people that have made an overpayment and are due a refund, in each respective period?
  • Response: N/A
4. What is the total number of people who have received refunds and the total sums, in each respective period?
  • Response:
    • 2016-17 - £1.36m (793 students)
    • 2017-18 - £1.31m (803 students)
    • 2018-19 - £1.99m (985 students)
    • 2019-20 - £936k (822 students)
    • 2020-21 - £934k (758 students)
5. What attempts are made to return overpaid monies?
  • Response: A link is provided on withdrawal or interruption for students to request funds.
6. What happens to monies that are not claimed?
  • Response: Money that is not claimed sits in the College’s credit balance account in case a refund is requested at a later date. It is not offset against debts.
7. Is interest accrued on refunds as a result of overpaid monies?
  • Response: No
8. What is the process for getting a refund?
  • Response: A link is provided on withdrawal or interruption for students to request funds.
9. What happens if the person owed money is deceased?
  • Response: Monies will be refunded to the student's estate.
10. Is there a time limit on refund claims?
  • Response: No>
2022-042Refund requests15/03/20221. How many students each year have requested a refund for their tuition (whether they received it or not)?
  • Response: We are only able to provide data for students who have been granted refunds. 
2. What were the reasons given by the students asking for a refund (partial or in full)?
  • Response: Refunds are granted following a withdrawal or interruption of studies. 
3. How many students asked for a refund for poor quality of teaching specifically?
  • Response: N/A 
4. How many refunds or partial refunds have been issued and please state a reason for each?
  • Response:
    • 2016-17 - 793 refunds
    • 2017-18 - 803 refunds
    • 2018-19 - 985 refunds
    • 2019-20  - 822 refunds
    • 2020-21  - 758 refunds 
5. How many staff members/lecturers have been disciplined (received a warning for example) for poor quality of teaching?
  • Response: Less than 5 
6. How many staff members/lecturers have been dismissed for poor quality of teaching?
  • Response: Less than 5 
2022-043Library management system15/03/2022I wish to make a request for the name of the library management system used by the university and the date the licence/contract is due for renewal.
  • Response: The College uses Horizon by Sirsi Dynix. The renewal of the licence takes place on 1 August 2022. 
2022-044Student numbers15/03/2022Can you please provide the number of full-time students attending each campus from 2017-18 up until the latest year you have data available for?
  • Response: Stratford was a teaching venue rather than a separate campus, so there were no students at the Stratford Campus. The total numbers are:
    • 2017-18 - 4496 total (3201 UG, 1295 PG)
    • 2018-19 - 4553 total (3177 UG, 1376 PG)
    • 2019-20 - 4761 total (3300 UG, 1461 PG)
    • 2020-21 - 5281 total (3596 UG, 1685 PG)
    • 2021-22 - 4694 total (3249 UG, 1445 PG)
2022-046Estates15/03/2022Please provide the telephone and email contact details of Estates and any other department in charge of maintenance.
2022-003Staff information17/03/2022Question and answer provided as spreadsheets.
2022-026Student marking17/03/2022

1. What was the number of students whose marks were changed in order to uplift their degree classification (except for students with approved mitigating circumstances)?

  • Response:
    • 2017-18 - 16
    • 2018-19 - 14
    • 2019-20 - 29
    • 2020-21 - 19

2. How many students' marks were changed for the purpose of raising their grades from one ending with a 9 to a 0 (e.g., 39 to 40, 49 to 50)?

  • Response for individual modules: Given the number of individual modules in the Department of Organizational Psychology's postgraduate degrees and the number of students, we are not able to provide this information as we would need to check every single student, and this would take more than 18 hours. Section 12 FOIA exempts organisations from the right to disclosure if the collection and assessment of the request information exceed the cost limit of £450 or 18 hours of work. With a conservative estimate of 5 minutes per case, we calculate that this would take approximately 185 hours to complete and therefore exceeds the cost limit. Therefore, we are not obliged to comply with this part of your request.
  • Response for degree classifications:
    • 2017-18 - 11
    • 2018-19 - 9
    • 2019-20 - 11
    • 2020-21 - 7

3. How many students' degree classifications were uplifted before the examination board, or during the examination board?

  • Response: All amendments were made at the pre-board meeting to agree paperwork for the sub-board.

4. What were the reasons for the application of discretion in each of the cases where students' marks were raised or degree classifications were uplifted?

  • Response: In all degree classification cases, this was due to preponderance.

5. What were the races and genders of the students for whom each type of discretion was applied?

  • Response: Due to the low numbers of students, we are not able to provide race and gender, as this data would risk identifying them. Section 40(2) exempts information from public disclosure if the disclosure would contravene any of the data protection principles. The disclosure of this information would contravene the first data protection principle and therefore is not suitable for disclosure and therefore exempt.
2022-033Student retention17/03/2022

For each academic year from 2017 to present (2017-18, 2018-19, 2019-20, 2020-21, 2021-22, up to the date this FOI request is received), I would like to know the following:

  1. total number of undergraduate students, and total number of postgraduate students enrolled in each academic year
  2. total number of undergraduate students who have dropped out, ceased, or interrupted their studies unofficially or officially in each academic year
  3. total number of postgraduate students who have also dropped out, ceased, or interrupted their studies unofficially or officially in each academic year.

I would like the above information divided by sex of the student, and the academic department of study to be indicated, if possible.

  • Response: The data was provided in the form of a spreadsheet.
2022-019Decolonisation18/03/2022What work is being done, or has been proposed in the above material, to tackle historic legacies of slavery, racism, or other contested legacies?
  • Response: The requested documentation was provided.
2022-035Non-disclosure agreements18/03/20221. Please could you provide me with the amount of non-disclosure agreements the university has funded in relation to sexual misconduct cases where the victim and perpetrator are or were both students.
  • Response: 0

2. Please could you disclose the amount of money the university has spent on non-disclosure agreements in relation to sexual misconduct cases where the victim and perpetrator are or were both students

  • Response: 0
2022-048Student retention18/03/2022Request cancelled
2022-010Student mental health services21/03/20221. Detail the amount spent on mental health and whether you have a dedicated mental health budget.
  • Response: There is a dedicated counselling budget and a separate mental health budget. Their total expenditure was as follows:
    • 2019-20 - counselling: £292,510.72; mental health: £132,067.41. In addition to this we spent £58,833.31 on mental health mentors where DSA wasn't available.
    • 2020-21 - counselling: £325,085.01; mental health: £161,416.64 - mentoring: £184,698.88
  • The two services also receive administrative support that is shared with the Disability and Dyslexia Service, and is costed outside of these budgets. These figures are for the College academic year rather than the specific dates listed.

2. Detail the amount of a) counsellors b) other clinical staff employed.

  • Response:
    • 9 June 2019-9 June 2020: four counsellors, one Deputy Service Manager and one Service Manager.
    • 10 June 2020-9 June 2021: Five counsellors, one Deputy Service Manage and one Service Manager.

3. Detail the a) median b) longest wait to see a counsellor.

  • Response: Average wait (working days)
    • Jun 2019: 18
    • Jul 2019: 15
    • Aug 2019: 9
    • Sep 2019: 61
    • Oct 2019: 8
    • Nov 2019: 13
    • Dec 2019: 21
    • Jan 2020: 25
    • Feb 2020: 20
    • Mar 2020: 18
    • Apr 2020: 27
    • May 2020: 25
    • Jun 2020: 8
    • Jul 2020: 9
    • Aug 2020: 13
    • Sep 2020: 7
    • Oct 2020: 5
    • Nov 2020: 8
    • Dec 2020: 12
    • Jan 2021: 15
    • Feb 2021: 13
    • Mar 2021: 15
    • Apr 2021: 20
    • May 2021: 17
    • Jun 2021: 16
  • Average wait (June 2019 to June 2020): 21 days
  • Average wait (June 2020 to June 2021): 12 days

4. Detail the number of students enrolled.

  • Response:
    • 2019-20 - 8,838
    • 2020-21 - 9,371
  • These figures refer to full-time equivalents. The actual number of individual enrolled students is closer to around 12,000.

5. Detail the number of students engaged with counselling.

  • Response:
    • 2019-20 - 463 students
    • 2020-21 - 445 students
2022-014Spam emails21/03/2022Please provide me with the total number of malicious emails blocked by your organisation over the last three calendar years (2021, 2020, 2019) broken down by year and categorised accordingly.
  • Response: This data is only retained for one calendar month. The data was provided in the form of a spreadsheet.
2022-034Procurement21/03/2022Your annual turnover or operating budget.

Your total procurement spend (inc VAT), including via Purchase Order/Invoice, Purchasing/Procurement Card, and Direct Debit.

Your total procurement/purchasing spend (inc VAT) with Amazon, and its major subsidiaries, including Amazon Web Services (please note that Amazon purchases may be listed under a range of merchant names [i.e. AMZNMKTPLACE, AMAZON MARKETPLACE] within purchasing/procurement card spend data).

  • Response: The data was provided in the form of a spreadsheet.

Please could you also answer the following questions:

Is your organisation or any part of it subscribed to Amazon Business?

  • Response: There are currently four active Amazon Business accounts associated with Birkbeck, University of London.

How much of the total spend with Amazon and its major subsidiaries (detailed above) is for the purchase of vouchers for gifting/award or other purposes?

  • Response: The data was provided in the form of a spreadsheet.
2022-036Student information21/03/20221. What are the names of Mr Wei-Chuan Shih's PhD viva examiners?
  • Response: Chu-joe Hsia (National Taiwan University) and Adam Gearey (Birkbeck)

2. When and where was the PhD viva held?

  • Response: 14 June 2018, at Birkbeck College

3. When did Mr Shih enter Birkbeck's MPhil/PhD programme? And what is the course length for Mr to earn his PhD?

  • Response: This is Mr Shih's personal data, and will not be disclosed.
2022-038Disabled students21/03/2022The number of students studying with the provider for each of the below academic years:
  • 2017-18
  • 2018-19
  • 2019-20
  • 2020-21

The number of disabled students studying with the provider for each of the below academic years:

  • 2017-18
  • 2018-19
  • 2019-20
  • 2020-21

If the provider can confirm whether it holds more specific data on how many students across the institution have specific disabilities (e.g. how many students studying with the provider have dyslexia).

The number of staff working for the provider for each of the below academic years:

  • 2017-18
  • 2018-19
  • 2019-20
  • 2020-21

The number of disabled staff working for the provider for each of the below academic years:

  • 2017-18
  • 2018-19
  • 2019-20
  • 2020-21

If the provider can confirm whether it holds more specific data on how many staff working across the institution have specific disabilities (e.g. how many members of staff working for the provider have dyslexia).

  • Response: The information you have requested is available on the HESA website.
2022-032Staff dismissal24/03/2022How many members of staff have been subject to a dismissal or summary dismissal for reasons of conduct by the university in each of the last five complete academic years (2016-17; 2017-18; 2018-19; 2019-20; 2020-21). Please include data for all staff. Where possible please also provide the reason for dismissal.
  • Response:
    • 2016-17 - 7
    • 2017-18 - 7
    • 2018-19 - 16
    • 2019-20 - 10
    • 2020-21 - less than 5
    • 2021-22 - less than 5
  • Please note that these numbers also include staff who have left for reasons of ill health. Due to the low numbers of staff involved, the College is not able to provide specific reasons for departure, as this risks identification.
2022-040Student demographics24/03/2022I would like to know the percentage of English, undergraduate, enrolled students, under the age of 25, since 2013-14 who are confirmed as care experienced, that do not meet the following criteria. Either:
  • a GCSE at grade C or above (4 in the new grading system) in both Maths and English
  • three A levels at C or above.

For the avoidance of doubt, only a failure to meet both conditions above should indicate that a student meets the criteria of this request.

Where possible, please disaggregate the information by academic year and provide the total student numbers used in the calculation. However, if disaggregation isn't possible please return the figures at any level of aggregation possible.

Please provide the same information, in the same format, for students who are not confirmed as care experienced (i.e. the general student population excluding confirmed care experienced students).

For the purposes of this query, students who are returned to HESA as Care Leaver 04 (UCAS identified care leaver) without any further verification should not be included in the care experienced population. Students identified as 04 and assessed as independent by Student Finance should be included in the care experienced population. Students identified as 04 and in receipt of a bursary for either care experienced or independent students should be included in the care experienced population. This list isn't exhaustive, any internal verification process is acceptable to include a student in the population.

  • Response: The answer to your query is that this data is not held. Birkbeck has historically served students from non-traditional pathways, who do not necessarily come directly from their A-Levels. For this reason, we do not have full records of GCSEs or A-Levels held. Birkbeck also does not verify care leaver status, or have care-leaver-specific bursaries.
2022-051Library facilities24/03/20221. Name and contact details of the Head of Library Services.
  • ResponseRobert Atkinson (r.atkinson@bbk.ac.uk)

2. Name and contact details of Estates and Facilities.

  • ResponseDaniel Xuereb (d.xuereb@bbk.ac.uk)

3. Capacity for students.

  • Response2997 square metres

4. The number of seats/study places.

  • Response522

5. The number of computer terminals.

  • Response134

6. The number of acoustic controlled pods/rooms/study areas?

  • Response: 8
2022-039College events25/03/20221. What risk assessment (if any) was conducted?
  • Response: The risk assessment was provided in the form of a PDF

2. What consideration (if any) was given to the need to foster good relations between persons of different ethnicities, nationalities and religions?

  • Response: This was provided in the form of a PDF.

3. What consideration (if any) was given to the need to eliminate harassment, victimisation and other conduct contrary to the Equality Act 2010.

  • Response: This was provided in the form of a PDF.

4. What was the outcome of any consideration of any of the above?

  • Response: This was provided in the form of a PDF.

5. What steps (if any) were taken to establish the accuracy of factual allegations to be made in the event on 5 March?

  • Response: This was provided in the form of a PDF.

6. Please provide copies of all correspondence, notes, minutes and other documents containing or recording the above.

  • Response: This was provided in the form of a PDF.

7. Please provide copies of your established policies as referred to in Professor Latchman's email below this by 12 noon on Monday 28/02/2022.

8. Please advise the names of the event panel and their contact details as well as provide minutes of the meetings in which they felt that this event complied with your free speech policies.

  • Response: The event panel was Katharine Bock: Deputy College Secretary Governance, Fraser Keir: Academic Registrar, and Anna Phillips: Deputy Director of Estates. Notes of this discussion are in the attached document.

9. Please let me have a copy of your free speech policies.

2022-050Researchfish25/03/20221. Do you have any commercial or financial relationship with Researchfish?
  • Response: No

If so, please provide (a) a summary of the services provided

  • Response: N/A

(b) the financial cost of the services provided

  • Response: N/A

2. Do you keep any records or place any obligations on your academics/departments to interact/cooperate with Researchfish?

  • Response: Yes

If so please provide (a) the obligations which you require your academics to fulfil

  • Response: Academics are required to comply with their funders' terms and conditions on reporting

(b) the type of information you keep on your academics or departments with regard to Researchfish

  • Response: A list of awards can be downloaded from Researchfish. No department information is held by Researchfish.

(c) a summary of the Researchfish completion rates by department

  • Response: 100% for response code 1 staff.
2022-007Student mental health services28/03/2022

1. Total cost of employed counsellors (named in the job title presented to students - not practitioner or adviser roles). This sum should include on costs such as pension etc.

  • Response:
    • 2018-19 - 295,527
    • 2019-20 - 302,270
    • 2020-21 - 320,212
    • 2021-22 - 290,092 (Budgeted)
  • Due to a change in financial system, data before 2018-19 is unavailable.

2. Cost spent by the institute on outsourced counselling provision (do not include web-based self-help such as Togetherall or Silvercloud). Also do not include services who are statutory provision which the institute does not pay for.

  • Response: Nil

3. The cost for mental health advisers, wellbeing advisers and mental health advisers (do not include those funded by DSA).

  • Response:
    • 2018-19 - £313,241 (Mental Health Service staff: £163,983 and Wellbeing Service staff: £149,258)
    • 2019-20 - £259,093 (Mental Health Service staff: £132,067 and Wellbeing Service staff: £127,026)
    • 2020-21 - £303,089 (Mental Health Service staff: £161,311 and Wellbeing Service staff: £141,779)
    • 2021-22 - £352,111 (Budgeted) (Mental Health Service staff: £182,806 and Wellbeing Service staff: £169,306).

4. Total number of students for academic year 2021-22.  Please break this down into undergraduate and postgraduate.

  • Response:
    • Undergraduate - 6,123
    • Postgraduate - 5,245

5. Basic undergraduate fee for a UK (Home) student.

  • Response: This information is available on the College's website.

6. Fee for an overseas/international student - if this is variable then include the range from-to.

  • Response: This information is available on the College's website.

7. Postgraduate fees - Masters level and PhD. level.  Include in this the charge for overseas and home students.

  • Response: This information is available on the College's website.

8. Total cost of staffing in your institute's marketing dept. This includes social media staff, alongside management etc.

  • Response:
    • 2018-19 - £1,379,623
    • 2019-20 - £1,156,076
    • 2020-21 - £1,339,354 (Budget)

10. Total number of students referred to outside mental health services such as IAPT.

  • Response: Nil

11. The percentage and number of students directed or referred into IAPT services (where present).

  • Response: Nil

12. The percentage and number of students directed or referred into third sector services (such as Mind or local charities).

  • Response: Nil
2022-013Lost devices05/04/2022

Please provide me with the total number of electronic devices reported lost or stolen within your organisation over the last five calendar years (2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017).

  • Response: 2019-20: Nine PCs stolen. Each PC cost £577.18 (excluding VAT)
  • 2021-22: 2 Laptops lost/stolen in post. Each laptop costs £590 (excluding VAT).
2022-049Dignity at Work and Study05/04/2022

1. Please provide me with any guidance relating to banned/ discouraged words that might cause offence or be perceived to be harmful.
2. Please provide me with a list of banned/discouraged words that might cause offence or be perceived to be harmful.

  • Response: The College does not have a list of banned or discouraged words. Staff and students are encouraged to use inclusive language, and enrol on training, such as Santander's online training course Union Black.

3. Please provide me with any guidance for staff or students relating to sex work.

  • Response: The College does not currently provide guidance for staff or students on sex work.

4. Please provide me with any guidance or suggested learning documents relating to white privilege or white fragility supplied by the university.

  • Response: The College does not have any guidance or suggested learning documents relating to white privilege or white fragility.
2022-015Recruitment agency spend07/04/2022

Please could you provide me with the total value of spend on staff recruitment agencies, which agencies were used, and how much was spent with each agency for the academic years 2018-19, 2019-20 and 2020-21?

Response:

2018-19:

  • Hays Specialist: £6,780
  • LUPC: £11,026
  • Michael Page: £17,865
  • Morgan Partners: £18,978
  • Odgers: £24,317
  • Portfolio Payroll: £3,919
  • Prospectus: £135,522
  • Uptown appointment: £6,305
  • Venn: £96,168

2019-20:

  • Marylebone Nursery: £1,024
  • Michael Page: £13,423
  • Morgan Partners: £49,476
  • Portfolio Payroll: £3,919
  • Prospectus: £135,522
  • Uptown appointments: £6,305
  • Venn Group: £96,168
  • Vocative Consulting: £240,586

2020-21:

  • Michael Page: £19,43
  • Prospectus: £376,244
  • Venn: £65,233
2022-058Staff contact details07/04/2022

Please may you provide me with: email address(es) of a person(s) responsible for your international marketing and PR? Regarding: bachelor's, master's programs, internationalisation, PLUS also: PhD programs/schools, post-doc, research.

2022-041Telephone contract21/04/2022

Contract 1 - contact centre/call centre contracts

Please send me the following information for each provider:

1. Incumbent supplier: For each of the contract(s) please can you provide me with the supplier of the contract.

  • Response: Contact centre - Mitel's CCM platform
  • Supplied by Maintel Europe Ltd

2. Annual average spend: the annual average (over 3 years) spends for each supplier

  • ResponseLess than £22k as this includes the annual phone platform support.

3. Contract expiry: the date of when the contract expires.

  • ResponseAnnual April

4. Contract review: the date of when the contract will be reviewed.

  • ResponseAnnual April - We are not looking to replace this in at least the next 5 years.

5. Contract description: a brief description of the services provided of the overall contract.

  • ResponseSoftware included as part of the Mitel VoIP phone system. Configured for 4 different CCM groups. We are not looking to replace this in at least the next 5 years.

6. Contact details: The person from within the organisation responsible for the contract. Please provide me with their full name, actual job title, contact number and direct email address.

  • ResponseThis information is personal data and is therefore exempt.

7. Number of agents: please provide me with the total number of contact centre agents.

  • Response90

8. Number of sites: please can you provide me with the number of sites the contact centre covers.

  • ResponseVirtual - includes work from home.

9. Manufacturer of the contact centre: Who is the manufacturer of the contact centre system that you operate?

  • ResponseMitel

10. Busy periods: Please state the month(s) which the contact centre is at its highest/busiest during the year. This can be based upon the number of calls. Your provider may be able to tell you quicker. E.g., JAN-MAR, APR, JUNE.

  • ResponseJune-October.

11. Do you use Microsoft Exchange 2003 as your email server? If not, then which product do you use?

  • ResponseNo, Exchange Online

12. Number of email users: Approximate number of email users across the organisations.

  • Response25,000

Please add any further comments attached to this contract if there are any changes coming to the organisation with regards to contact centres.

The second part of my request relates to the use inbound network services contracts which could relate to one of the following:

1. 0800, 0845, 0870, 0844, 0300 number

  • ResponseBT services via Maintel

2. Routing of calls

  • ResponseOn Prem - Mitel platform using SIP trunks

3. Caller Identifier

  • ResponseBT via SIP trunks on Mitel platform

4. Caller profile - linking caller details with caller records

  • ResponseIn house development

5. Interactive voice response (IVR)

  • ResponseMitel platform

For contract relating to the above please can you provide me with?

1. Incumbent supplier: For each of the contract(s) please can you provide me with the supplier of the contract.

  • ResponseMaintel Europe

2. Annual average spend: the annual average (over 3 years) spends for each supplier

  • ResponseAs noted above £22k

3. Contract expiry: the date of when the contract expires.

  • ResponseApril, as noted above, annual rolling - not looking to replace any of these services

4. Contract review: the date of when the contract will be reviewed.

  • ResponseApril, as noted above, annual rolling - not looking to replace any of these services

5. Contract description: a brief description of the services provided of the overall contract.

  • ResponseDescribed above

6. Contact details: The person from within the organisation responsible for the contract. Please provide me with their full name, actual job title, contact number and direct email address.

  • ResponseThis information is personal data and is therefore exempt.

 

2022-045Student financial support21/04/2022

1. The breakdown of students by ethnicity who received financial support during October 2019 and September 2022. Please categorise this information by financial support type. Please exclude any scholarships.
2. The breakdown of students by ethnicity who received COVID-19-related financial support during October 2019 and September 2022. Please categorise this information by financial support type. Please exclude any scholarships.

  • Response
    • Asian - 2019-20: 115, 2020-21: 174, COVID-specific: less than 10
    • Black - 2019-20: 290, 2020-21: 255, COVID-specific: 10
    • White - 2019-20: 403, 2020-21: 84, COVID-specific: 10
    • Mixed - 2019-20: 82 2020-21: 134, COVID-specific: less than 10
    • Other - 2019-20: 57, 2020-21: 85, COVID-specific: less than10
  • We do not yet have full data for September 2022. We cannot list individual awards, as some financial support is provided by independent donors and is therefore exempt under Section 43(2). Section 43(2) of the FOI Act exempts institutions from the requirement to disclose information which would be likely to prejudice the commercial interests of Birkbeck or anyone else. Our view is that disclosure could undermine Birkbeck's ability to negotiate with potential donors.
2022-059Research grants21/04/2022

1. The amount of money in sponsorship or funding given to your institution from universities, institutions, organisations or companies based in China per year.

  • Response0

2. Ideally, I would like a breakdown of the information for each academic year over the last five years (from 2016-17 to 2020-21)

  • ResponseN/A

3. I would also like a breakdown of the funding or sponsorship sources for each academic year.

  • ResponseN/A

4. If you have data for the 2021-22 academic year you can provide this would also be helpful.

  • Response: 0
2022-055Sexual assault26/04/2022

The total number of reported cases of sexual misconduct during the academic years 2015-16 to 2020-21, by year.

  • Response:
    • 2015-16: 0
    • 2016-17: 0
    • 2017-18: <5
    • 2018-19: <5
    • 2019-20: 5
    • 2020-21: 0

Numbers of male and female respondents were precisely equal.

 

2022-056COVID-1926/04/2022

Teaching

1. What best describes the delivery style of your courses for the academic year 2020-21 (this includes lectures, seminars, tutorials and workshops):

  • Response: Majority online learning, with some face-to-face learning.

2. What best describes the delivery style of your courses for the academic year 2021-22 (this includes lectures, seminars, tutorials and workshops)

  • ResponseMajority face-to-face learning with some online learning

3. Are all students guaranteed to receive full contact hours for the academic year 2021-22? i.e. lectures/seminars/workshops/tutorials with university staff delivered face-to-face or online. (This does not include online resources.)

  • ResponseYes

4. Will a combination of face-to-face and online lectures/seminars/workshops become a permanent part of your teaching methods?

  • ResponseYes

Fees

1. In the academic year 2020-21 tuition fees for UK/EU students have been:

  • ResponseCharged in full

2. In the academic year 2021-22 tuition fees for UK/EU students have been:

  • ResponseCharged in full

3. In the academic year 2020-21 tuition fees for international students have been:

  • ResponseCharged in full

4. In the academic year 2021-22 tuition fees for international students have been:

  • ResponseCharged in full

5. Have any of your course tuition fees changed in price since the introduction of blended learning during the pandemic?

  • ResponseYes, increased

Accommodation

6. What is the average cost of university-run student accommodation at your university?

  • ResponseBirkbeck does not have student accommodation.

7. Was there any reduction in rent charged to students staying in university-run accommodation in academic year 2020-21?

  • ResponseN/A

8. Will there be any rent reductions for students staying university-run halls in the year 2021-22?

  • ResponseN/A

Student feedback

1. How many complaints has your institution received in relation to the delivery style of courses in the academic year 2020-21?

  • ResponseFrom October 2020 to September 2021 the College received 24 complaints about online teaching.

2. How many complaints has your institution received in relation to the delivery style of courses in the academic year 2021-22 so far.

  • ResponseThe College has received three complaints about online teaching in the 2021-22 academic year so far.

 

2022-066Student deaths26/04/2022

a) The number of student deaths in each calendar year of 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, as well as the first quarter of 2022 (with separate figures for each year please).

  • Response:
    • 2018: 9
    • 2019: 9
    • 2020: 5
    • 2021: <5
    • first quarter of 2022: <5

b) Of these, the number of student deaths recorded as suicide by a coroner in each calendar year of 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, as well as the first quarter of 2022.

c) For each death recorded as suicide by a coroner, the date of death.

d) For each death recorded as suicide by a coroner, the campus or college which the student had been attending (if your institution has more than one college/campus).

  • ResponseWe do not record causes of death. Please note that Birkbeck does not have student accommodation. We rely on external reports of deaths.
2022-054Telephone contract27/04/2022

Contract 1 - telephony/voice services (analogue, ISDN VoiP, SIP etc)

1. Please can you provide me with the name of the supplier for each contract.

  • Response: Maintel Europe Ltd

2. Please provide day, month and year (month and year are also acceptable). If this is a rolling contract, please provide me with the rolling date of the contract. If there is more than one supplier, please split the renewal dates up into however many suppliers

  • ResponseRolling contract, renewable in April

3. Contract duration - the number of years the contract is for each provider, please also include any contract extensions.

  • ResponseRolling contract, renewable in April

4. Please can you split the type of lines per each supplier? PSTN, analogue, SIP, ISDN, VOIP

5. Number of lines/channels/SIP trunks - please can you split the number of lines per each supplier? SIP trunks/connections, PSTN, Analogue, ISDN

Contract 2 - incoming and outgoing of call services

6. Minutes/landline provider - supplier's name (NOT Mobiles). If there is no information available, please can you provide further insight into why?

  • ResponseMaintel Europe Ltd

7. Minutes/landline contract renewal date - please provide day, month and year (month and year is also acceptable). If this is a rolling contract, please provide me with the rolling date of the contract.

  • ResponseRolling contract, renewable in April

8. Minutes/landline - monthly average spend on calls for each provider. An estimate or average is acceptable. If SIP services, please provide me with the cost of services per month.

  • ResponseThe average annual spend is £22k.

9. Minute/landlines contract duration - the number of years the contract is for each provider, please also include any contract extensions.

  • ResponseRolling contract.

10. Number of extensions - please state the number of telephone extensions the organisation currently has. An estimate or average is acceptable.

Contract 3 - the organisation's broadband provider

11. Broadband provider - supplier's name if there is not information available, please can you provide further insight into why?

  • ResponseBroadband is provided by JISC, who provide this service for all HE and FE Institutions.

12. Broadband renewal date - please provide day, month, and year (month and year is also acceptable). If this is a rolling contract, please provide me with the rolling date of the contract. If there is more than one supplier, please split the renewal dates up into however many suppliers

13. Broadband - annual average spend for each broadband provider. An estimate or average is acceptable.

Contract 4 - Contracts relating to wide area network [WAN] services, this could also include HSCN network services.

14. WAN provider - please provide me with the main supplier(s) if there is no information available, please can you provide further insight into why?

  • ResponseInternal

 

2022-057Sexual assault27/04/2022

Whether or not any consent posters have been produced

  • Response: No consent posters have been produced.
2022-060Staff information27/04/2022

Information on the salary paid to your lecturer, Justin Schlosberg.

  • Response: Dr Justin Schlosberg is a Reader, (Grade 9 on London scale), spine points 045-049. £57,194-£63,869.

I would also be grateful for a copy of the register of interests in relation to Mr Schlosberg, as well as any gifts, hospitality or travel enjoyed by Mr Schlosberg in the past 3 years.

  • Response: Birkbeck only requires Registers of Interests from the Governors and Senior Management Team. Dr Schlosberg has not received any gifts, hospitality or travel costs outside his research budget.
2022-061Staff information27/04/2022

Information on the salary paid to your lecturer, Des Freedman.

I would also be grateful for a copy of the register of interests in relation to Mr Freedman, as well as any gifts, hospitality or travel enjoyed by Mr Freedman in the past 3 years.

2022-065PhD information27/04/20221. Is it permissible for a PhD student to choose an external viva member who is a friend, former thesis advisor, or other acquaintance in your college?
  • Response: Information about the examiner nomination process is available on the College website. Please see ‘The PhD examination process’ section on Information for supervisors.
2. Will a PhD student's degree be revoked if an unsuitable external viva member is found?
  • Response: A candidate is entitled to appeal the outcome of their research degree examination – please see Appeals policy (research). If a concern was raised by a party other than the award holder this would be considered in line with academic standards or research misconduct policies and procedures depending on the circumstances.
3. Where should a PhD student file a complaint if his or her degree was obtained with the assistance of an unsuitable external viva member?
  • Response: Please see information about the examiner nomination process and the Appeals policy (research) highlighted above.
2022-062Student data05/05/2022

Number of Indian applicants for postgraduate courses.
Number of Indian Muslim applicants for postgraduate courses.
Number of Indian applicants who received the final offer.
Number of Indian Muslim applicants who received the final offer.
Number of Indian Muslim applicants who didn't pursue the offer.

  • Response: Information provided as an Excel spreadsheet
2022-064Facilities management05/05/2022Office and building cleaning - service contract that is focused around office, commercial and building cleaning services. Supplier/provider of the services:
  • ResponseIn house

Lift service and maintenance - service contract for lift service and maintenance.

Supplier/provider of the services:

  • ResponseTitan Elevators

Total annual spend - the spend should only relate to each of the service contracts listed above.

  • Response£42,809 + VAT

A description of the services provided under this contract please; includes information if other services are included under the same contract.

  • ResponsePassenger and platform lift maintenance (12 and 4 visits per annum respectively), contract is inclusive of breakdown and emergency callouts where the cause is not through misuse.

The number of sites the contract covers

  • Response9

The start date of the contract

  • ResponseJune 2020

The end date of the contract

  • ResponseMay 2023

The duration of the contract, please include information on any extensions period.

  • Response3 years, plus a one-year extension

Food - Service contract that is focused around catering services.

Supplier/provider of the services:

  • ResponseIn house (partially from April 22) with Sodexo consultation

Total annual spend - the spend should only relate to each of the service contracts listed above.

  • Response2021-22 (only): £400,000

A description of the services provided under this contract please; includes information if other services are included under the same contract.

  • ResponseAugust 2021 to April 2022 - full catering and hospitality.
  • April to July 2022 - catering service consultancy only.

The number of sites the contract covers

  • Response2 (one restaurant, two cafes)

The start date of the contract

  • ResponseAugust 2017, varied in March 2020

The end date of the contract

  • ResponseJuly 2022

The duration of the contract, please include information on any extensions period.

  • ResponseFive years, plus two one-year extensions

General waste services contracts - the organisation's primary general waste service contract.

Supplier/provider of the services

  • ResponseVeolia

Total annual spend - the spend should only relate to each of the service contracts listed above.

  • Response£50,000

A description of the services provided under this contract please; includes information if other services are included under the same contract.

  • ResponseGeneral waste, recycling, food waste, clinical waste, weed waste.

The number of sites the contract covers

  • Response16

The start date of the contract

  • ResponseFebruary 2020

The end date of the contract

  • ResponseJanuary 2023

The duration of the contract, please include information on any extensions period.

  • Response3 years, plus two one year extensions

Laundry services where clothes and linen can be washed and ironed.

  • ResponseN/A, the College does not currently run a laundering service.
2022-071Non-disclosure agreements05/05/2022

1. Whether or not your institution has signed up to the Government-backed commitment not to use NDAs (non-disclosure agreements) or confidentiality clauses for sexual misconduct cases on campus, introduced by Michelle Donelan in January 2022.

  • Response: Birkbeck has not signed up to this Government-backed commitment, but has a separate policy not to use NDAs.

2. Whether your institution used NDAs in sexual misconduct cases for the year 2018-19, and if so, for how many cases out of the total number of misconduct cases (please also give the total sexual misconduct cases recorded for each year)?

  • ResponseNo

3. Whether your institution used NDAs in sexual misconduct cases for the year 2019-20, and if so, for how many cases out of the total?

  • ResponseNo

4. Whether your institution used NDAs in sexual misconduct cases for the year 2020-21, and if so, for how many cases out of the total?

  • ResponseNo
2022-063PhD information06/05/2022

1. Please verify whether or not PhD viva examiners for PhD degrees awarded by the universities of the UK are disclosable public information under FOIA 2000.
2. Please verify whether or not any previous student's information about his or her MPhil/PhD programme, such as the course length, the starting date, and the ending date, is personal data under FOIA 2000.

  • Response: As you will be aware, the FOIA allows members of the public to access recorded information held by a public authority subject to any exemptions. The FOIA is not designed to be used to answer questions or to request advice about a particular topic. Therefore, your email does not qualify as valid FOIA request as they are not requests for recorded information held by the College and, therefore, Birkbeck is not obliged to provide a response.
2022-077PhD programme18/05/2022

Someone revealed publicly that he studied law at Birkbeck for his PhD from 1997 to 2018. I'm quite interested in learning more.

1. Is it possible for a student to study for a PhD at your university for so long (21 years)?

  • Response: Birkbeck's regulations for research degrees are published on the Birkbeck website. There are two sets of regulations: for doctoral students who began before 1 October 2017 and for doctoral students who began on or after that date. The regulations for students who began before 1 October 2017 do not specify a maximum registration period. The regulations for students who began on or after 1 October 2017 specify a maximum registration period, normally four years full time and seven years part time.

2. If yes to the above question, what type of PhD program does your school offer, and how does a student apply?

2022-052Content warnings19/05/2022

Which books, plays, poems and films at the university have been given content warnings over the last three academic years? (2021-22, 2020-21 and 2019-20).

Response: No books have been given content warnings. The following extracts from primary texts have come with content warnings:

One video is distributed with a content warning, a video produced by the Restorative Justice Council where a bereaved family member is talking about the impact of his brother's murder on the family and their experience of restorative justice with the perpetrator.

Please note that this information is not routinely collected by the Schools of Arts and BEI.

2022-067National Union of Students19/05/2022

Please provide details of any funding given to the NUS during the 2021-22 financial year. Please include how much money was provided, the date of the transaction, the purpose for which the money was given, and whether the money was a grant or a loan and, if a loan, any conditions attached.


Response:

  • 07/09/2021, £250, job ad, September: Job ID 6784 (Academic Adviser), job ad, September: Job ID 6941 (Advice Manager).
  • 29/09/2021, £1078.06, Birkbeck College Students' Union (1050)
  • 30/09/2021, £4687.50, Birkbeck College Students' Union (1050)
2022-068Suppliers19/05/2022

Please can you send me a list of all the suppliers you have purchased goods or services from in your last financial year and the annual spend with those suppliers.

  • Response: Please find attached a list of the College's suppliers. We are refusing the request for annual spend by supplier as it is commercially sensitive. Section 43(2) of the FOI Act exempts institutions from the requirement to disclose information which would be likely to prejudice the commercial interests of Birkbeck or anyone else. Our view is that disclosure could undermine Birkbeck's ability to negotiate successful commercial and business contracts. The College's annual spend is made available in the College's financial statements, which are held on the College website.
2022-069Student mental health19/05/2022

1. Daily balance: Does the university have a dedicated department for addressing mental health issues; providing access to counselling, CBT, etc.

  • Response: Yes

2. Daily balance: Is the service provided for a limited period of time?

  • ResponseYes

3. Resilience: Do students have free or subsidised access to outlets for emotional management? (i.e. sports teams/access to fitness centres/sports societies or intramural clubs)

  • ResponseYes

4. Resilience: Is the provision of these resources limited to specific days/time of the day? (i.e. not 24/7 access)

  • ResponseYes

5. Daily balance: Is your department or service dedicated to addressing mental health issues available for students to access in multiple formats. (i.e. on campus /online etc.)

  • ResponseYes

6. Daily balance: Does your university provide student support plans to facilitate long-term support?

  • ResponseYes

7. Daily balance: Does your university have connections with external bodies in the event of an urgent request?

  • ResponseYes

8. Daily balance: Does your university monitor students' activity to identify indicators of poor or declining mental health?

  • ResponseYes

9. Resilience: Are students provided with a point of contact in the event of personal or academic concerns (this can be either another student or a member of staff)?

  • ResponseYes

10. Resilience: Do students have access to free online resilience resources?

  • ResponseYes

11. Community: Does your university provide access to societies/clubs/sports teams?

  • ResponseYes

12. Community: Are these activities regularly promoted to students for maximum uptake?

  • ResponseYes

13. Relationships: Does the university host on-campus events to foster a sense of community?

  • ResponseYes

14. Community: Does your university actively work with students to develop supportive and collaborative learning communities?

  • ResponseYes

15. Community: Does your university have services or processes in place to ensure belonging, social cohesion and acceptance of individual differences.

  • ResponseYes

16. Community: Does your university dedicate resources to ensure social integration for those with less connection to campus or those who are at a higher risk of isolation (i.e. this would include commuting students, online students, part-time students, disabled students, international students and BAME students)?

  • ResponseYes

17. Community: Does your university support students with their living arrangements following year 1 (i.e. helping to find other students to live with, educating students on local areas and the financial obligations of renting, etc.)?

  • ResponseYes

18. Relationships: Does your university have services or processes in place that support students to build a sense of belonging, particularly in year 1?

  • ResponseYes

19. Relationships: Does your university encourage group working within year 1 to help facilitate relationship building among students?

  • ResponseYes

20. Relationships: Are there programmes available for current students to support new students to become acclimated?

  • ResponseNo

21. Relationships: Does your university have resources to support students who experience isolation or a relationship breakdown?

  • ResponseYes

22. Self-esteem: Does your university provide access to counselling/CBT?

  • ResponseYes

23. Self-esteem: Does your university have cultural/linguistic societies?

  • ResponseYes

24. Purpose: The university provides volunteering opportunities for students (both within the university and the local community)?

  • ResponseYes

25. Self-esteem: Does your university ensure that student voices play an active role in helping to understand the needs of the current cohort?

  • ResponseYes

26. Self-esteem: Is your university staff equipped with training to develop the confidence of students and promote positive mental health?

  • ResponseYes

27. Self-esteem: Does your university help to facilitate the creation of friendship groups, outside of clubs/societies/sports teams?

  • ResponseYes

28. Self-esteem: Does your university host regular events/programs, unrelated to the students' courses?

  • ResponseNo

29. Purpose: Do students have access to leadership positions within the university such as peer mentoring/course representatives/school representatives etc?

  • ResponseYes

30. Purpose: Does the university provide opportunities for students' personal development?

  • ResponseYes

31. Hobbies and interests: Does your university provide access to societies/clubs/sports teams?

  • ResponseYes

32. Hobbies and interests: Does your university support individuals with additional needs wanting to engage in extracurricular activities?

  • ResponseYes

33. Experience: Your university encourages staff and students to spend time in nature for the benefit of their health?

  • ResponseNo

34. Experience: Does your university have a dedicated 'Careers Service' or Development Centre to support students' professional development?

  • ResponseYes

35. Learning: Is medical proof/doctor's note required for students to request an extension or other adjustments due to mental health or long-term conditions?

  • ResponseYes

36. Hobbies and interests: Your university ensures that student voices play an active role in helping to understand the needs of the current cohort.

  • ResponseYes

37. Hobbies and interests: Your university actively encourages its students to pursue extracurricular activities that enable them to expand their hobbies and interests. (i.e. hosting extracurricular fairs throughout the year/regularly distributing promotional materials/keeping students informed via newsletters etc.)

  • ResponseNo

38. Experience: Your university regularly hosts ongoing workshops around professional development for students (i.e. CV support/interview prep/career exploration etc.).

  • ResponseYes

39. Experience: Students have access to leadership positions within the university such as peer mentoring/course representatives/school representatives etc.

  • ResponseYes

40. Experience: Your university helps to facilitate internships (both during and outside of term time).

  • ResponseYes

41. Experience: Students are encouraged and able to participate in activities outside their course for a rounded experience (i.e. learning a new language/trying a sport they've never played).

  • ResponseNo

42. Learning: Students are given a point of contact in the event of personal or academic concerns (this can be either another student or a member of staff).

  • ResponseYes

43. Learning: Your university ensures that curriculums aim to encourage a focus on deep learning, meaning, mastery and development.

  • ResponseYes

44. Learning: Your university ensures that the link between learning and wellbeing is considered for the full student cohort (i.e. undergraduate, postgraduate researchers, postgraduate students, part-time students, and online learners).

  • ResponseYes

45. Learning: Specialist learning support is available to help students academically (i.e provisions to help students with finding journal articles, using databases, or making the best use of other library services and resources).

  • ResponseYes

46. Autonomy: Does the university provide:
- interventions for those at risk

  • ResponseYes

- support while waiting for external interventions

  • ResponseYes

- and ensure the safety of the physical environment?

  • ResponseYes

47. Competence: Does your university have course/school level awards based on contribution and performance?

  • ResponseNo

48. Competence: Does your university have a dedicated 'Careers Service' or Development Centre to support students professional development?

  • ResponseYes

49. Autonomy: Lecture and seminar material is available to students in multiple formats (i.e. face-to-face delivery and online recording).

  • ResponseSometimes

50. Autonomy: Students have autonomy over the modules they choose to study.

  • ResponseTo a degree

51. Autonomy: Students have the opportunity to participate in modules outside of their degree programme for additional credits.

  • ResponseNo

52. Autonomy: Each program makes use of coursework as a way for students to display their autonomy.

  • ResponseYes

53. Autonomy: Students are able to participate in activities outside their course to illustrate their autonomy to learn new things (i.e. learning a new language/trying a sport they've never played).

  • ResponseYes

54. Autonomy: The university equips students with positive mental health practices so that each individual is able to play an active role in the development of their own wellbeing.

  • ResponseYes

55. Autonomy: The university ensures that students are supported to transition successfully beyond university into their career or further study.

  • ResponseYes

56. Competence: Your university helps to facilitate internships (both during and outside of term time).

  • ResponseYes

57. Competence: The university, through education and resources, ensures that students can collectively develop the confidence and ability to recognise and respond to poor mental health.

  • ResponseYes

58. Exercise: Does your university have an on-campus gym for students?

  • ResponseNo

59. Exercise: Are the on-campus fitness facilities free to access for students?

  • ResponseNo

60. Exercise: Are there costs associated with joining sports teams?

  • ResponseNo

61. Nutrition: Does the university strategically place vending machines or other self-serve food outlets in buildings that may not have dining facilities?

  • ResponseYes

62. Substance abuse: Does the university provide advice to students regarding alcohol/smoking and drug abuse?

  • ResponseYes

63. Substance abuse: Does your university offer addiction support groups or services?

  • ResponseNo

64. Exercise: The university subsidises the cost of on-campus fitness facility access for students receiving a bursary/grant or other forms of funding.

  • ResponseNo

65. Exercise: The university subsidises third-party gym memberships for students unable or unwilling to use on-site facilities.

  • ResponseNo

66. Exercise: The university subsidises the costs associated with sports teams for students receiving a bursary/grant or other forms of funding.

  • ResponseNo

67. Nutrition: The university ensures students have access to nutritious food outlets on campus.

  • ResponseYes

68. Nutrition: The university provides education to students relating to good nutrition.

  • ResponseNo

69. Substance abuse: Your university has clubs/societies dedicated to students struggling with substance abuse so those individuals can connect with others dealing with similar issues.

  • ResponseNo

70. Substance abuse: Your university hosts 'non-alcohol' nights or events to accommodate for sober students.

  • ResponseNo

 

2022-053Student information23/05/2022

Could you send me any data or information which details the figures of how many students have or have had a problem with alcohol at your University from academic years 2017 to 2021. In addition to this how many of those students received counseling or help from the University with their problem during their time at the University.

  • Response: The College does not record how many students have or have had a problem with alcohol. From 2017 until the present, the following numbers have attended counselling for 'Addictive Behaviours'
    • 2017-18: <5
    • 2018-19: 5
    • 2019-20: 5
    • 2020-21: <5
    • 2021-22: 0
0200-070Student mental health23/05/2022

1. The total number of staff employed in your mental health/student services department per academic year including mental health advisers, counsellors, student mentors as well as any other staff members.

Response:
  • 2017-18: 10
  • 2018-19: 12
  • 2019-20: 12
  • 2020-21: 13
  • 2021-22: 14

2. The annual budget for mental health/support services funded by the Disabled Students' Allowances for the last five requested academic years. If necessary, this request can be expanded to cover costs of other support services within this department such as self-referral services, or online services.

  • Response: Our services aren't funded by the DSA. Mentoring paid for by the DSA is through external agencies and we wouldn't hold the information about the amounts spent on this. You may be able to obtain this information via Student Finance England.

3. How many students have left the university, suspended or postponed their studies due to mental health issues each academic year for the last five years. If possible, please include the gender and year of study of each student.

  • Response: Figures not available - students aren't required to give a reason when they interrupt or withdraw.

4. The number of students per academic year who have declared a mental health issue/condition to the university for the last five academic years.

  • Response: Current year is 2021-22 - 1,051 for students with a declared MH condition, usually with a formal diagnosis. This does not include those seeking counselling short-term MH issues. This has grown steadily over the years, however the information is categorised differently now and we cannot compare exactly with historical data.
  • The number of students with a declared mental health condition: A problem with the figures is that where a disability is reported as multiple disability, we cannot separate that out whether it includes a mental health condition or not, but we would estimate that somewhere between 50‐70% of those recorded as having multiple disabilities have a mental health condition. The figures below show both as numbers of students and as percentage of the overall cohort.

2013-14:

  • Mental health - 382 (19%)
  • Multiple disabilities - 354 (17%)

2014-15:

  • Mental health - 386 (18%)
  • Multiple disabilities - 466 (22%)

2015-16:

  • Mental health - 407 (20%)
  • Multiple disabilities - 502 (25%)

2016-17:

  • Mental health - 439 (21%)
  • Multiple disabilities - 530 (26%)

2017-18:

  • Mental health - 451 (23%)
  • Multiple disabilities - 546 (27%)

2018-19:

  • Mental health - 447 (26%)
  • Multiple disabilities - 412 (24%)
2022-073Staff turnover23/05/2022

For each of the last five calendar years (2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017) and the current calendar year to date, please supply the following split by academic/non-academic staff.

1. Number of new staff joining the university.
2. Number of current staff leaving the university.

  • Response: Information supplied as a table.
2022-074Finance30/05/2022

A list of your current projects and programmes (for example IT projects)?

Associated timelines for those project and programmes?

Your current spend on agency, temporary or contingent labour?

Copies of business cases approved in the past three months?

  • ResponseSupplied as a spreadsheet
2022-075Contract register30/05/2022

I would like to submit a request for some information from the organisation, in relation to their contract's register.

  • ResponseSupplied as a spreadsheet
2022-080Finance information30/05/2022

I have identified a potential call-off contract awarded by Birkbeck College, but I can't find details of the framework agreement it was awarded from.

  • Response: Please find attached the requested information.
2022-076Student data06/06/2022
  • Number of applicants applying each year who have ticked the time spent in care box on UCAS
  • Number of these applicants each year offered an interview (if applicable)
  • Number of these applicants each year offered a place
  • Number of these applicants enrolling each year at your institution

Response: Supplied as a spreadsheet.

2022-078Teaching materials16/06/2022

Note: My questions relate to texts on university modules, including but not limited to novels, plays, poetry, non-fiction works, historical books and criticism. Please can you answer the questions in relation to the last three academic years (2019-20, 2020-21 and 2021-22) and for courses within the studies of English, History, Drama and Modern Languages.

1. Please can you provide a list of texts that have been removed or withdrawn from course reading lists because of concerns about their content?

2. For each of these texts, please can you state which modules they were previously taught under and whether they have been/were withdrawn permanently or temporarily?

3. For each of these texts, please can you provide the reason they were withdrawn from reading lists (e.g. contains graphic depictions of sexual assault etc)?

4. For each of these texts, please can you state whether it was removed from a course reading list in response to complaints/concerns raised and, if so, a description of where the complaints or concerns came from? To be clear, I am not asking for you to disclose personal details of individuals who complained. Instead, you could state in general terms that the complaint came from, say, students, or from the student union, or from the UCU, or from a lecturer, or a named external consultancy etc)

5. Please can you provide a list of texts on module reading lists that students have been told they can choose not to read - and instead read an alternative text - because of concerns about their content?

6. For each of these texts, please can you state which modules they are usually taught under and whether this option not to read them is/was a temporary or permanent decision?

7. For each of these texts, please can you provide the reason an alternative text is/was provided (e.g. contains graphic depictions of sexual assault etc)?

8. For each of these texts, please can you state whether alternatives are/were offered in response to complaints/concerns raised and, if so, a description of where the complaints or concerns came from? To be clear, I am not asking for you to disclose personal details of individuals who complained. Instead, you could state in general terms that the complaint came from, say, students, or from the student union, or from the UCU, or from a lecturer, or a named external consultancy etc).

Response: The information you are requesting is not held by Birkbeck.

2022-081Finance information16/06/2022

Please include information, broken down by academic year, on how much funding the University has provided to the Student Union/Guild of Students. Please provide information for the following academic years: 2019-20, 2020-21, 2021-22 (to date).

Please make clear if this funding is a grant or a loan.

  • Response: This information is available as part of the College's Financial Statements. The College's Financial Statement for 2021-22 will be published in December.
2022-086Teaching materials16/06/2022

1. Across all departments can you please provide a list of 'trigger warnings', 'content warnings', 'content advisories', 'content advice', notes for potentially upsetting content - anything, with varying terminology, that serves the purpose of a trigger warning - that are in place for course material.

Can you please provide:

  • a list of all warnings and what material they relate to, by department/course/module
  • the reason for this warning being provided e.g racial violence
  • this can be narrowed down to material currently in place for this academic year.

2. If applicable, can you please provide a list of all changes to course material in relation to upsetting or offensive content, or content relating to triggering issue. For example, books removed from course, or no longer taught.

Response: The information you are requesting is not held by Birkbeck.

2022-083IT applications22/06/2022

1. What ERP system does your organisation currently use (e.g. SAP/Oracle/Sage)?

  • Response: Business World Unit 4 ERP

2. What BACS software do you use (e.g Bottomline PTX/Finastra/ PayGate)?

  • ResponseBottomline Bacway

3. How long is your current BACS solution contract for, when did it start and when is it due to expire (please include in addition any extensions viable in the contract)?

  • ResponseThe initial contract was for two years starting 1 May 2013 and has been extended annually, current contract ends 30 April 2023.

4. When the current BACS software contract is due to finish would you (if not already) consider using another solution?

  • ResponseYes

5. What is the value of the BACS software contract?

  • Response£1,724.36

6. Are you undergoing/planning a financial transformation project? (e.g. New ERP/BACS system)

  • ResponseNo

7. What payment types does the organisation use? (e.g Bacs (Direct Credit), Direct Debit, Faster Payments, etc.)

  • ResponseBACS payments, Direct Debit collection, Faster Payments, CHAPS, Same day payments, 3 day payments, Standing Orders, Direct Debits

8. Who is the person responsible for the ERP system - please provide full name, title and contact information (if possible).

  • ResponseJames Smith, Chief Information Officer

Who is the person responsible for the BACS software system - please provide full name, title and contact information (if possible).

  • ResponseJames Smith, Chief Information Officer
2022-084Athena Swan award30/06/2022

1. Which departments/schools/other units in your institution hold an Athena Swan Award? At what level is the award held (for each unit)? How many times, when, and at what level was it renewed, if applicable (for each unit)?

Response:

Bronze - Birkbeck College (institutional level)

  • Initial submission, April 2012
  • Bronze renewal, April 2015
  • Bronze renewal, November 2016
  • Bronze renewal, April 2020

Silver - Department of Biological Sciences

  • Initial submission, April 2015 (Bronze)
  • Silver award, April 2018

Bronze - Department of Computer Sciences and Information Systems

  • Initial submission, April 2017

Bronze - Departments of Economics, Mathematics and Statistics

  • Initial award, April 2012
  • Renewal, April 2017

Bronze - Department of Psychological Sciences

  • Initial award, August 2012
  • Renewal, April 2014

Silver - School of Arts

  • Bronze award, April 2017

2. Does your institution hold an Athena Swan award? At what level is the award held and when was it first awarded? How many times, when, and at what level was it renewed, if applicable (for each unit)?

  • Response: Institutional Athena Bronze award, renewed in 2020

3. Does your institution have mandatory unconscious bias training for staff? When was it introduced for the first time? How often must staff undertake such training?

  • Response: Yes. All staff are required to undertake U/B training, which was introduced in December 2016.

4. Does your institution have additional specialised mandatory unconscious bias training sessions for all managers within the institution?

  • Response: No.

5. Does your institution have additional specialised mandatory unconscious bias training sessions for all senior managers within the institution?

  • Response: No.

 

2022-089Funding06/07/2022

1. Has the university received any donations from the individuals or businesses listed below in the last 10 financial years (up to and including June 2022) - i.e. 2013/4 to date in 2022/3? If so, please could you state how much the donation and/or research fund was (in pounds sterling), the date it was received by the university and whether it was for a particular purpose - if it was, please could the university detail the purpose.

2. Has the university received any funding at all from the individuals or businesses listed below in the last 10 financial years (up to and including June 2022) - i.e. 2013/4 to date in 2022/3? If so, please could you state what the funding was worth (in pounds sterling), the date it was received by the university and what the funding was for - i.e. if it paid for research and development, etc, please can broad details be provided.

  • Response: The university has not received any donations or funding from the individuals or businesses listed below in the last 10 financial years.

Individuals: Igor Sechin, Roman Abramovich, Oleg Deripaska, Andrey Kostin, Alexey Miller/ALEXEI BORISOVICH MILLER, Nikolai Tokarev, Dmitri Lebedev, Boris Rotenberg, Igor Rotenberg, Gennady Timchenko, Elena Aleksandrovna Georgieva, Kirill Dmitriev, Pyotr Fradkov, Yury Slyusar, Kirill Shamalov, Alisher Usmanov, Igor Shuvalov, Denis Bortnikov, Eugene Shvidler/Evgeny Shvidler, Herman Gref, Oleg Tinkov, Eugene Tenenbaum, David Davidovich, German Gref, Sergei Viktorovich Lavrov, Andrei BURDYKO, Andrei Leonidovich KOSTIN, Vyacheslav Serafimovich MAKAROV, Oleg Viktorovich MOROZOV, Nikita Gennadievich RUMYANTSEV, Aidar Raisovich METSHIN, Maria Nikolaevna PRUSAKOVA, Mikhail Maratovic FRIDMAN, Petr Olegovich AVEN, German Borisovich KHAN, Anton Vladimirovich SHIPULIN, Alfia Gumarovna KOGOGINA, Sergei Kuzhugetovich SHOIGU, Anton Eduardovich VAINO, Dmitriy Yuryevich GRIGORENKO, Maxim Gennadyevich RESHETNIKOV, Lyubov Valentinova PRIGOZHINA, Margarita Simonovna SIMONYAN, Dmitry Alexandrovich VINNIKOV, Nikolai Mikhailovich ROGASHCHUK, Yury Petrovich TRUTNEV, Aleksander Vladimirovich GUTSAN, Vladimir Vladimirovich YAKUSHEV, Igor Anatolyevich KOMAROV, Vladimir Leonidovich SIVKOVICH, Oleg Yurievich TINKOV, Vladimir Ilich MAKSIMENKO, Andrey Grigoryevich ARESHEV, Anton Sergeyevich BESPALOV, Natalya Petrovna SKOROKHODOVA, Alexey Lvovich NIKOLOV, Aleksandr Aleksandrovich ZHAROV, Sergei Sergeivich IVANOV, Andrey Igorevich AKIMOV, Alexander Valeryevich DYUKOV, Sergey Anatolyevich KOGOGIN, Andrey Grigoryevich GURYEV, Leonid Viktorovich MIKHELSON, Viatcheslav KANTOR, Maria Vladimirovna VORONTSOVA, Katerina Vladimirovna TIKHONOVA, Yekaterina Sergeyevna VINOKUROVA, Vladimir Nikolaevich PAVLENKO, Vladimir Petrovich EVTUSHENKOV, Pavel EZOUBOV, Vagit Yusufovich ALEKPEROV, Andrey Removich BOKAREV, Nigina ZAIROVA, Andrey Aleksandrovich FURSENKO, David Davidovich, Anzhelika Khan, Oleg Valentinovich Belozyorov, Maksim Stanislavovich Oreshkin, Brian McDonald, Sergey Vladimirovich MIKHAILOV, Mikhail Mikhaylovich Zadornov, Dmitriy Olegovich Levin, Tatyana Gennadevna Nesterenko, Viktor Andreevich Nikolaev

Organisations: Aleksandrov Scientific Research Technological Institute NITI, Federal State Unitary Enterprise Dukhov Automatics Research Institute, Central Research Institute of Machine Building, Rocket and Space Centre Progress, Promtech-Dubna, Radiotechnical and Information Systems Concern, Arzamas Machine-Building Plant, STRATEGIC CULTURE FOUNDATION, SCIENTIFIC-RESEARCH INSTITUTE VEKTOR, Rossiya Bank, Genbank, IS Bank, Promsvyazbank, Rostec, United Aircraft Corporation, Tactical Missiles Corporation, UralVagonZavod, United Shipbuilding Corporation, VTB Bank, VEB.RF, Bank Otkritie Financial Corporation, SOVCOMBANK, Sberbank, JSC Integral, The Russian Direct Investment Fund, Gazprombank, Oboronnye Initsiativy, Russian Agricultural Bank, Alfa-Bank, Alrosa, EXIAR, SALAVAT CHEMICAL PLANT, Kronshtadt, ATLANT, INSPIRA INVEST, RusHydro, Russian Railways, Russian Venture Company, THE PLANAR COMPANY, Ural Bank for Reconstruction and Development, SMP Bank, Sovcomflot, TV-NOVOSTI, ROSSIYA SEGODNYA, CREDIT BANK OF MOSCOW, Kalashnikov Concern, MILITARY INDUSTRIAL COMPANY, INFOROS, SOUTHFRONT, Mikron, MOLECULAR ELECTRONICS RESEARCH INSTITUTE, All-Russian Public Organization Society for the Promotion of Russian Historical Development Tsargrad, All-Russia State Television and Radio Broadcasting Company, Volga Group, The Special Technology Centre, Dollezhal Order of Lenin Research and Design Institute of Power Engineering, Kranark LLC, Sovcomflot

 

2022-090Research funding06/07/2022

1. The amount awarded on veteran related research

  • Response: £77,717

2. When the research was funded

  • Response: 2018

3. The title of the research project

  • Response: Confronting a Masculine Military Ideal: the experience of LGBTQ military personnel

4. Duration of project

  • Response: October 2018-September 2022

5. Who received the funding to carry out the research

  • Response: Matthew Cook
2022-095Forced swim test06/07/2022

I would like to request the following information please: Are forced swim tests permitted by your institution?
How many forced swim tests have been conducted by your institution each year over the past ten years?

  • Response: No forced swim tests have been conducted at the College in the last ten years.
2022-017Freedom of information requests20/07/2022

1. Total number of FOI requests received broken down into the following years: 2019, 2020, 2021.

  • Response:
    • 2019: 234
    • 2020: 195
    • 2021: 191

2. Total number of requests identified in Q1 responded to within the statutory time frame (including requests where clarification was sought and where an extension was applied to conduct a public interest test) broken down into the following years: 2019, 2020, 2021.

  • Response:
    • 2019: 174
    • 2020: 99
    • 2021: 131

3. Total number of Data Subject Access Requests received broken down into the following years: 2019, 2020, 2021.

  • Response: This data is not held. I am able to state that in 2020 there were at least two requests, and in 2021 at least five.
2022-098Staff information20/07/2022I hereby request copies of all papers and data applicable to HQ16X03078 and its associated College Disciplinary Proceeding Files:
  • The Claim Form
  • The Defence
  • Witness Statements of both Parties
  • Indexed Hearing Bundles of both Parties (to include any Chronologies)
Response: The response to your query is that this data is not held by Birkbeck. All papers and data relating to the referenced case were destroyed following the expiration of the appeal period.

If you have questions regarding your marks, you could put in a Subject Access Request by contacting dpo@bbk.ac.uk.

2022-100Student mental health20/07/2022How many students have died by suicide every academic year since 2011 and ending with the academic year starting 2021 (providing figures to date). Can you please give separate figures for both confirmed and suspected suicides.
  • Response: Birkbeck does not have student accommodation, and is a specialist provider of evening higher education. Two thirds of our students are over 21, and they will usually work or volunteer in addition to their studies. We rely on external reports of deaths, and we do not record causes.
2022-079Staff development policy21/07/2022
  • A copy of your organisation's staff development policy.
  • Please could you also complete the attached excel spreadsheet.

Response: Please find the requested information attached. Information about staff development is available on the College website.

2022-082IT applications21/07/2022

1. What applications and versions are you running for the following functions:

a) Finance?

  • ResponseUnit4 Business World

b) HR?

  • ResponseUnit4 Business World

c) Payroll?

  • ResponseUnit4 Business World

d) Projects?

  • ResponseUnit4 Business World

e) Business Intelligence Software Tools?

  • ResponseTableau

2. If you're a work tribe user for Research Management (Response: No), in what regards do you use it for:

a) Opportunities

  • ResponseN/A

b) Pre awards

  • ResponseN/A

c) Contracts

  • ResponseN/A

d) Ethics

  • ResponseN/A

e) Post awards

  • ResponseN/A

f) Curriculum management

  • ResponseN/A

3. What is the contract value for work tribe and the start and end date of the contract?

  • Response: N/A

4. Will you be interested in a trial or demo for a grant management platform?

  • Response: No

5. We request for you to provide contact details of all chief decision-makers regarding your technology through your organisation?

  • Response: James Smith, CIO.
2022-085IT systems21/07/2022

Which Human Capital Management (HCM) or HR system do you currently use?

  • Response: Unit4 Business World

How many HR system users do you have?

  • Response: Licensed for 1250

Which Finance systems do you currently use?

  • Response: Unit4 Business World

How many finance system users do you have?

  • Response: Licensed for 1250

Which Payroll systems do you currently use?

  • Response: Unit4 Business World

How many Payroll system users do you have?

  • Response: Licensed for 1250

The contract with Unit4 Business World began in April 2021, and runs for five years. We are refusing the request for the value, as it is commercially sensitive. Section 43(2) of the FOI Act exempts institutions from the requirement to disclose information which would be likely to prejudice the commercial interests of Birkbeck or anyone else. Our view is that disclosure could undermine Birkbeck's ability to negotiate successful commercial and business contracts.

2022-093IT systems21/07/2022

1. Does the Security of Network and Information Systems Regulations (NIS Regulations) apply to the university or any part of the university (including outsourced suppliers responsible for systems defined in the Regulations)? (See here for information on the Reg: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/nis-directive-and-nis-regulations-2018)

  • Response: No
2022-096IT systems21/07/2022

Please may you provide me with:

  • A copy of any project plans associated with the implementation of Microsoft OneDrive in your organisation.

Response: None

  • A copy of any project plans associated with the implementation of Microsoft Sharepoint in your organisation.

Response: None

  • A copy of any audit reports (to determine the effectiveness of your IT Service Desk or IT Helpdesk) undertaken on your IT Service Desk or IT Helpdesk between 2018 and the present day.

Response: None

2022-106Racism and diversity training21/07/2022

1. Do you offer PGCE or PGDE courses?

  • Response: Birkbeck does not offer PGCE courses.
2022-132IT07/09/2022

1. Which provider do you currently use for timetabling software within the university?

  • Response: Currently we use a bespoke timetabling produced developed in-house.

2. Which other software products integrate with this timetable software?

Response: It integrates (to different levels) with:
  • Moodle
  • Collaborate
  • MS Teams
  • Kinetics
  • Unit4 ERP
  • a range of other bespoke, in-house systems.
2022-135Student transport07/09/2022

1. Do you have an existing transport service for students?

  • Response: No

If yes: When is the contract due for renewal? Which companies provide your transport services? What is your annual budget for student transport? Do you charge students to use the transport service? If so, how much and what type of tickets do you provide (daily, termly, annual)? How many students use the transport per day? What is your occupancy rate?

2. How many parking spaces available vs. demand for spaces?

  • Response: None provided

3. How much do you charge for parking, and how much money is generated per year? Please explain how you procure student transport services. Please identify any frameworks and or buying groups that your organisation is a part of. What job role is responsible for managing the transport budget?

  • Response: N/A

4. How many staff members are in the transport team?

  • Response: None. Birkbeck do not provide a student transport service nor do we own parking facilities.
2022-126School of Law records13/09/2022

I hereby and pursuant to FOIA 2000 and if applicable, GDPR DPA 2018, to receive full copies of the following: the Minutes and associated Files of LAW SCHOOL, BIRKBECK COLLEGE LLB EXAM SUB BOARD Meetings of both June 2014 and September 2014.

  • Response: Please find attached the Minutes of the LLB Exam sub-board for June 2014 and September 2014. Under the Data Protection Act we are redacting personal information which may reveal the identity of students or staff.

Copies of any Judicial Review heard and adjudicated upon including the Law School of Birkbeck College by His Honourable Sir John Mitting and/or Her Honourable Ms Justice Lang (as she then was).

  • Response: We do not release any information relating to judicial review. This is because court records are exempt from disclosure under section 32 of the Freedom of Information Act.
2022-130Financial information20/09/2022

I am writing to you under the Freedom of Information Act in order to obtain the most up-to-date information on Birkbeck's links with companies complicit in Uyghur forced labour.

I am writing to request information on the existing financial relations between Birkbeck and the following companies: Brioni, Levi's, Louis Vuitton, Dior, Fendi, Givenchy, Celine, Timberland, Dickies, Vans, Theory, Sephora, Coach, Versace, Jimmy Choo, Michael Kors, Chanel, Costco, Hanes, Hermes, Gucci, Balenciaga, Yves Saint Laurent, Bottega Veneta, Alexander McQueen, Kate Spade, Fila, LL Bean, Hugo Boss, Lacoste, Li-Ning, The North Face, Skechers, Tommy Hilfiger, Victoria's Secret, Zara, Zegna, Anta, Jansport, Acer, ASUS, Dell, HP, Huawei, Lenovo, LG, Microsoft, Oppo, Samsung, Sony, Xiaomi, Cisco, Electrolux, Muji, Kohl's, Macy's, Nordstrom, Target, Tesco, TJ Maxx, Marshalls, HomeGoods, Walmart, Sam's Club, Flipkart, Bonobos, Walt Disney, BMW, General Motors, Jaguar, Land Rover, and Volkswagen.

Please include the following information:

1. The total amount, in pounds sterling, that the university has received in research funding from the above mentioned companies since 2018, broken down by financial year (2018-19, 2019-20, 2020-21, 2021-22).

  • Response: None

2. The total amount, in pounds sterling, that the university has received in the form of industrial consultancy and industrial research fees from the above mentioned companies since 2018, broken down by financial year (2018-19, 2019-20, 2020-21, 2021-22).

  • Response: None

3. A portfolio statement of the fund(s) the university has investments in. If you do not have a copy of this, please send a list of the names of the fund(s) and the corresponding management companies. Details should be broken down by financial year (2018-19, 2019-20, 2020-21, 2021-22).

  • Response: Our Financial Statements 2021 (PDF) explain our approach to investment (p 24): 'Governors finalised a new investment strategy in 2019-20 which aims to support our core business activities, purchase of capital equipment, infrastructure improvements and our estates strategy. It also includes the College's approach to Responsible Investment. Independent advice on investment manager selection, which particularly focussed on Environmental, Social and Governance criteria, was provided by Mercer and in the autumn of 2020 our investment funds were moved away from Newton, with £10 million invested into each of the following: Ruffer Charitable Assets Trust and Mercer Sustainable Global Equity Fund.'

4. Please also include the total value, in pounds sterling, of university fees being covered, in part or full by the above companies for graduate degrees and 'studentships'. Details should be broken down by financial year (2018-19, 2019-20, 2020-21, 2021-22).

  • Response: None
2022-133Student enrolment20/09/2022

I would like to find out the number of young fathers who are studying in HE. Under the FOIA (2000), I would like to request the following information for the most recent academic year, 2020-21:

1. How many students in total were enrolled on HE courses at your institution during the academic year 2020-21? (HE courses include Access to HE, Undergraduate degrees, Postgraduate degrees and Higher/Degree apprenticeships).

  • Response: We are refusing your request under Section 21 of the Freedom of Information Act, which states that we are not required to provide information in response to a request if it is already reasonably accessible to you. Information on student enrolment is available on the HESA website.

2. Did you collect data on the parental status of students at your institution during the academic year 2020-21? (If the answer is no, please state a reason for this.)

  • Response: No. We are not currently required to keep data on dependents or type of dependent for students.

3. How many young fathers did you have studying HE courses at your institution during the academic year 2020-21? (A young father is defined as male, aged 25 or under with at least one child. Please include Access to HE, Undergraduate degrees, Postgraduate degrees and Higher/Degree apprenticeships).

  • Response: Information not available.

4. Where possible, please break down the total number of young student-fathers identified in question 3 into the following categories for the academic year 2020-21: a) Number of young fathers studying undergraduate degrees, b) Number of young fathers studying postgraduate degrees, c) Number of young fathers studying higher/ degree apprenticeships, d) Number of young fathers studying Access to HE courses.

  • Response: Information not available.
2022-134Vehicles20/09/2022

Would you kindly provide me with the following information regarding company cars/vehicles that your organisation has, please?

1. How many vehicles does your company operate in the UK (vehicles that are owned, leased, or on Flexi-rental NOT including Grey fleet or vehicles on a short-term lease)?

Response:
  • Cars: 0
  • LCVs (up to 3.5 tonnes): 1
  • Trucks/HGV (over 3.5 tonnes): 0

2. Do you run electric vehicles (if so, are these electric cars/vans or HGVs)?

  • Response: Yes, as above.

3. What proportion (please ensure the percentages add up to 100) of your CARs fuelled by the following? (If unsure, please state how many electric cars you have in total.)

Response (we do not have any cars):

  • Petrol: 0%
  • Diesel: 0%
  • BEV: 0%
  • Hybrid: 0%
  • Other: 0%

4. What proportion (please ensure the percentages add up to 100) of your LCVs are fuelled by the following? (If unsure, please state how many electric LCVs you have in total.)

Response:
  • Petrol: 0%
  • Diesel: 0%
  • BEV: 0%
  • Hybrid: 0%
  • Other: 100% (electric)

5. What is the name of the fleet manager (or the person responsible for cars and LCVs)?

  • Response: Jossette Leigh, Head of Facilities
2022-129Internet speed22/09/2022

Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, please can I request the following information about the university's internet speed?

1. Average upload speed (of all campuses)

  • Response10gbps

2. Average download speed (of all campuses)

  • Response10gbps

3. The name of your internet network provider

  • ResponseJisc JaNet
2022-143Social media30/09/2022

1. Does the university monitor the social media accounts of students?

  • Response: No

2. Does the university store data from student social media?

  • ResponseNo

3. a) Has the university purchased or does the university have any contracts for software designed to monitor student social media?

  • ResponseNo

b) If so, please provide: the name of the software; the date on which it was first purchased or used; and the cost (either per year, or as a one-off cost, whichever applies).

  • ResponseN/A

4. a) Does the university employ designated members of staff to monitor student social media?

  • ResponseNo

b) If so, how many FTE posts?

  • ResponseN/A
2022-127Racism04/10/2022

1. Over the past four years, how many students have made formal complaints of racism about other students?

Response:

  • 2018-19: 3
  • 2019-20: 2
  • 2020-21: 0
  • 2021-22: 0
  • Total: 5

1.1 How many of these complaints were upheld?

Response:

  • 2018-19<5
  • 2019-20<5
  • 2020-210
  • 2021-220
  • Total: <5   

1.2 How many students were formally disciplined as a result of these complaints?

Response:

  • 2018-19<5
  • 2019-20<5
  • 2020-210
  • 2021-220
  • Total: <5

1.3 How many students were suspended, expelled and/or left the university as a result of these complaints?

Response:

  • 2016-17: 0
  • 2017-18: 0
  • 2018-19: 0
  • 2019-20: 0
  • 2020-21: 0

2. Over the past four years, how many students have made formal complaints of racism about staff (academic and non-academic)?

Response:

  • 2018-19: 0
  • 2019-20: 0
  • 2020-21: 0
  • 2021-22: 0
  • Total: 0

2.1 If recorded, please break down how many complaints were made against academic staff and non-academic staff.

Response (both academic and non-academic):

  • 2018-19: 0
  • 2019-20: 0
  • 2020-21: 0
  • 2021-22: 0
  • Total: 0

2.2 How many of these complaints were upheld?

Response:

  • 2018-19: 0
  • 2019-20: 0
  • 2020-21: 0
  • 2021-22: 0
  • Total: 0

2.3 How many staff were formally disciplined as a result of these complaints?

Response:

  • 2018-19: 0
  • 2019-20: 0
  • 2020-21: 0
  • 2021-22: 0
  • Total: 0

2.3 How many staff were suspended, dismissed and/or left the university as a result of these complaints?

Response:

  • 2018-19: 0
  • 2019-20: 0
  • 2020-21: 0
  • 2021-22: 0
  • Total: 0

3. Over the past four years, how many staff have made formal complaints of racism about other staff?

Response:

  • 2018-19: 3
  • 2019-20: 1
  • 2020-21: 0
  • 2021-22: 0
  • Total: 4

3.1 How many of these complaints were upheld?

Response:

  • 2018-19<5
  • 2019-200
  • 2020-210
  • 2021-220
  • Total: <5
  • Notes: 3 cases in 2018 the outcome was not recorded 

3.2 How many staff were formally disciplined as a result of these complaints?

Response:

  • 2018-19<5
  • 2019-200
  • 2020-210
  • 2021-220
  • Total: <5

3.3 How many staff were suspended, dismissed and/or left the university as a result of these complaints?

Response:

  • 2018-19: 0
  • 2019-20: 0
  • 2020-21: 0
  • 2021-22: 0
  • Total: 0

4. Over the past four years, how many staff have made formal complaints of racism about students?

Response:

  • 2018-19: 0
  • 2019-20: 0
  • 2020-21: 0
  • 2021-22: 0
  • Total: 0

4.1 How many of these complaints were upheld?

Response:

  • 2018-19: 0
  • 2019-20: 0
  • 2020-21: 0
  • 2021-22: 0
  • Total: 0

4.2 How many students were formally disciplined as a result of these complaints?

Response:

  • 2018-19: 0
  • 2019-20: 0
  • 2020-21: 0
  • 2021-22: 0
  • Total: 0

4.3 How many students were suspended, expelled and/or left the university as a result of these complaints?

Response:

  • 2016-17: 0
  • 2017-18: 0
  • 2018-19: 0
  • 2019-20: 0
  • 2020-21: 0

 

2022-142Meeting management04/10/2022

1. How do you manage your meetings (organise agenda, minutes etc)? Do you use a meeting management software such as a board portal or a software such as Teams, emails etc?

  • Response: We use Microsoft Teams

2. If yes, what is the name of the supplier?

  • Response: Microsoft

3. If yes, what is the contract expiry and contract review date?

  • Response: Annual, it's a component of the Microsoft Campus Agreement.

4. How many users are on the board portal/management solution, and how much do you spend on this?

  • Response: All staff and all students

5. What is your cost per user?

  • Response: This is not possible to determine, as it's part of the Campus Agreement, which bundles Teams, Exchange Online, Office 365, SharePoint and OneDrive.

Could I also kindly ask for contact details for the best lead regarding this?

  • Response: There is no one lead person for this.
2022-146Social media04/10/2022

1. Who is your social media management and monitoring tool supplier?

  • Response: We do not have a social media monitoring tool.

2. Start date and duration of framework/contract with supplier.

  • Response: N/A

3. Actual spend on this contract/framework (and any sub lots), from the start of the contract to the current date.

  • Response: N/A

4. Who is the senior officer (outside of procurement) responsible for this contract?

  • Response: N/A
2022-148Ethical policies05/10/2022

Do you have the 'Birkbeck futures ethical careers policy' web page as an official policy document, dated and signed off by high-level admin?

  • Response: We have no further information in our records.

Please may I request any ethical research policy or statement dated within the last five years and signed off by high-level admin. Please can these be broken down by year and categorised accordingly:

  • Year of policy/statement release
  • Name of senior management, council or committee that wrote or signed off the statement
  • Name of the overseeing council or committee and list of individuals in the council or committee that oversees ethics of research partnerships
  • Any statement/commitment to exclude/avoid research partnerships or funding (including research consultancy) with arms trade companies (may not be in research policy)
  • 'Research partnerships' in the above is defined as any research project or collaboration that involve the active student body with companies or institutions who have stakes in the defence industry and the arms trade.

Response: You can view all of our research ethics and integrity documents.

These documents are overseen by the College Ethics Committee. Individual proposals for research projects with ethical dimensions are considered by departmental and school Ethics committees and each school makes an annual report to the College Ethics Committee.

2022-131Financial information07/10/2022

1. What was the total market value of the university's investment portfolio(s) on 31 July 2022?

2. On 31 July 2022, were the institution's investment portfolio(s) managed directly by the institution, indirectly by [an] external fund manager(s), or a combination of both?

  • Response: External fund manager

3. If the university uses external fund manager(s) to manage investment portfolios, please provide the name of each fund manager used, along with the percentage of the total investment funds that they were managing on 31 July 2022.

  • Response: Ruffer Charitable Assets Trust and Mercer Sustainable Global Equity Fund equally.

4. If the institution invests directly, please provide the details of companies invested in (by way of all investment portfolios), including the full names of each company invested in, and the market value invested in each company on 31 July 2022. Please provide this information in a spreadsheet format.

  • Response: N/A

5. If the university holds investments through [an] external fund manager(s), please provide a breakdown of the university's holdings with that investment manager on 31 July 2022, including the market value for each company that forms part of your investment portfolio(s) with them. Please provide this information at a company level in a spreadsheet and/or the format that this information is provided to you by your fund manager(s).

6. Does the institution have an ethical investment policy, or similar? If so, please state if it is publicly available, and provide a web link.

2022-137Safeguarding07/10/2022

1. Please could you provide your university polic(ies) addressing how the institution tackles online abuse (including image-based abuse and online harassment) in the student body.

  • Response: Student Discipline and Student Complaints policies, Social Media policy. All available as part of our student policies.

2. Please could you provide the name of the member of your university executive team directly responsible for student safeguarding.

  • Response: Eleanor Mongey, Director of Student Services

3. Please could you provide the name of the member of your university governing body/board directly responsible for student safeguarding.

4. Please can you provide details of how students can report incidents of online abuse (including image based abuse and online harassment) in your institution.

5. The number of student disciplinaries where online abuse (including image based abuse and online harassment) was a factor per year for each academic year from 2018-19 to 2021-22 inclusive.

Response: Before 2020 cases were recorded with less detail and we only have records of escalated cases (so no records of cases that may have been dealt with informally at department level). In terms of cases referred to central proceedings, the number of student disciplinaries where online abuse was a fact per year were as follows:
  • 2018-19: two cases
  • 2019-20: two cases
  • 2020-21: two cases
  • 2021-22: two cases

6. Please could you provide the number of reports made to the police where online abuse (including image-based abuse and online harassment) was a factor per year for each academic year from 2018-19 to 2021-22 inclusive.

  • Response: There were two in 2018-19.

7. Has your university provided a response to the OfS Statement of Expectations to prevent and respond to incidents of harassment and sexual misconduct? If so please can you provide it. If the response is available publicly on your website, please can you provide the URL.

  • Response: We do not have a statement of response - we communicate to students clearly how they can report.

8. Do you provide mandatory safeguarding training for staff? Please can you provide details.

  • Response: We provide online and in-person safeguarding training for staff.
2022-138Financial information07/10/2022

1. An annual investment report. If you do not have a copy of this, please send me a list of the names of the fund(s) and the corresponding management companies. If the management companies do not provide the list of funds, please provide the name of the management companies and the amount given to them annually.

2. Could you please provide me with all research projects with any connection to arms trade companies in the last five years. Connections can include source of funding and/or collaborative research partnership on the research project. Please can these be broken down by financial year, and categorise them accordingly:

  • Title and aim of research project
  • Players (list of companies involved in the research project)
  • Source of funding for the research project (to be included the source of funding does not have to be an arms trade company)
  • The total amount, in pounds sterling, that the university has received in research funding for this project in the last five financial years. Details should be broken down for this project year-by-year.
  • Timescale of research project
Response: The information we hold is:
  • Title: AID HumanE: Distributed AI and the Effective Human. Funder: Defence Science and Technology Laboratory. Start date: 10/02/2020. End date: 30/04/2020. Amount awarded: £6,830.
  • Title: #SharedStories: Giving Defence and Society a Way to See their Shared Futures. Funder: Defence Science and Technology Laboratory. Start date: 10/02/2020. End date: 31/05/2020. Amount awarded: £12,055.

3. Please provide an 'ethical research policy or statement' which refers to any commitment by the university to exclude any collaborative effort, working relations or financial gain from a research project or partnership that has any connection to arms trade companies within the past five years. Please can these be broken down by year and categorised accordingly:

  • Year of policy/statement release
  • Name of senior management or council or committee that wrote or signed off the statement
  • Any statement/commitment to exclude/avoid graduate schemes with arms trade companies (may not be in research policy).

Response: This is part of our investment policy as above.

 

2022-151Google searches10/10/2022

1. Please tell me how many times each of the following 10 names were searched through Google on your university intranet system in the 30 days prior to the date of this FoI request. (Note: To be clear, I'm interested to know how many times the below search terms have been Googled through university computers, and I'd be happy with receiving the data in whatever form you hold it.)

  • Kim Kardashian
  • Kylie Jenner
  • Kendall Jenner
  • Molly Mae
  • Tommy Fury
  • Charles Darwin
  • Albert Einstein
  • William Shakespeare
  • Isaac Newton
  • Leonardo da Vinci.

Response: We are unable to reply as we do not hold this information.

2022-128Diversity14/10/2022

1. Status of participation in the Advance HE Race Equality Charter programme. Birkbeck has signed up as a member of Advance HE's Race Equality Charter. It is working towards an award. Any costs incurred in relation to taking part in this programme - did you pay to participate?

  • Response: Yes. The cost was £3,500 for 2020-21.

a) What criteria have you had to meet with regard to this programme - that is, what targets are set to achieve the Equality Charter award, what general goals, what areas of improvement, or areas of focus for race equality work?

  • Response: All information is held by Advance HE. Documents we have are attached.

b) Can you please provide all information from Advance HE which sets out the criteria/goals/targets, or otherwise explains participation in the Race Equality programme.

  • Response: All information is held by Advance HE. Documents we have are attached.

Can you please provide any guidance provided by Advance HE with regard to this programme, particularly in relation to 'decolonising' or 'internationalising' the curriculum?

  • Response: All information is held by Advance HE. Documents we have are attached.

Costs for any training provided by Advance HE in relation to race equality, and what this training was.

  • Response: Two members of staff attended an Advance HE course entitled 'Leading Race Equality in Higher Education' in 2019. The total cost was £300.

c) What changes have you made as an institutions with regard to the Race Equality Charter, what new policies or approach have been either rolled out of proposed to meet the purpose of the Charter (work to attainment gap, or decolonising courses for example).

  • Response: None as yet. Birkbeck is working on its submission and development of an action plan.

d) In particular I am interested in what guidance Advance HE have provided with regard to decolonising curricula: for example, 'what reading lists have they provided, what books or material suggestions, what material or books have they suggested should not be on curricula?'

  • Response: All information is held by Advance HE. Documents we have are attached.

2. Trade unions a) Can you please advise what advice/guidance has been officially given to the university/its departments/those responsible for leaving on diversity and inclusion from trade unions. I am interested in advice/guidance relating to decolonisation work, anti-racism work, and guidance on diversity

  • Response: Birkbeck UNISON have not offered official advice or guidance to the university or departments on diversity and inclusion. UNISON, along with UCU and UNITE, is a member of the staff facing College Equality and Diversity Committee and act in a challenge and support role, notably on the completion of equality analysis assessments.

b) In particular I am interested in if trade unions have provided advice on decolonisation; and what this is.

  • Response: The Equality and Diversity Committee does not have teaching, decolonising the curriculum or student experience as part of their remit which is picked up by other committees.

3. a) Can you confirm whether you are signed up to any Stonewall schemes

  • Response: Birkbeck is a Stonewall Diversity Champion.

b) Stonewall assess organisations on how diverse their supply chains are: my question is, what work has your organisation done to make your supply chain more diverse?

  • Response: The Procurement team's 'New Supplier Registration Form', explaining that Birkbeck is a Disability Confident Employer, encouraging new suppliers to be Disability Confident and linking to information on the scheme. The larger value College tenders include award criteria on environmental and social values and respondents have to provide sufficient information for evaluation purposes. The College also uses sector-recognised framework agreements, which have award criteria including coverage of their own diversity policies as part of the process.

Does this extend to the suppliers of books and teaching materials? For example, do you monitor how diverse the booksellers supplying the organisation are?

  • Response: The College has annual contracts with both these framework suppliers, who have their own Diversity and Sustainability policies - Kortext and Prenax.

 

2022-145IT14/10/2022

Please can you send me the organisation's local area network (LAN) contract, which may include the following:

  • support and maintenance - e.g. switches, router, software etc
  • managed - if this includes services than just LAN.

1. Contract type: Managed or maintenance

  • Response: Maintenance

2. Existing supplier: Who is the current supplier?

  • Response: Cisco

3. Annual spend for each supplier: What is the annual average spending on the supplier above? If there is more than one supplier, please split the annual averages spent for each supplier.

  • Response: £14,400 (incl VAT)

4. Number of users: Please can you provide me with the number of users this contract covers. Approximate number of users will also be acceptable.

  • Response: 12,000

5. Number of sites: The number of sites where equipment is supported by each contract.

  • Response: 22

6. Hardware brand: What is the hardware brand of the LAN equipment?

  • Response: Cisco

7. Contract description: Please provide me with a brief description of the overall contract.

  • Response: Cisco Support for critical network infrastructure

8. Contract duration: What is the duration of the contract and can you please also include any extensions this may include?

  • Response: Annual

9. Contract expiry date: When does the contract expire?

  • Response: June 2023

10. Contract review date: When will the organisation be planning to review the contract?

  • Response: This is reviewed annually by our governing body under advice from ITS.

11. Responsible officer: Contact details including name, job title, contact number and email address

If the LAN maintenance is included in-house please include the following information:

1. Hardware brand: What is the hardware brand of the LAN equipment?

  • Response: N/A

2. Number of users: Please can you provide me with the number of users this contract covers. Approximate number of users will also be acceptable.

  • Response: N/A

3. Number of sites: Estimated/actual number of sites the LAN covers.

  • Response: N/A

4. Responsible officer: Who within the organisation is responsible for LAN? Please provide me with contact details including name, job title, contact number and email address.

  • Response: N/A

If the contract is managed by a third party e.g. Can you please provide me with:
1. Existing supplier: Who is the current supplier?
2. Number of users: Please can you provide me with the number of users this contract covers. Approximate number of users will also be acceptable.
3. Number of sites: Estimated/actual number of sites the LAN covers.
4. Contract type: Managed, maintenance, installation, software
5. Hardware brand: What is the hardware brand of the LAN equipment?
6. Contract description: Please provide me with a brief description of the overall contract.
7. Contract duration: What is the duration of the contract and can you please also include any extensions this may include.
8. Contract expiry date: When does the contract expire?
9. Contract review date: When will the organisation be planning to review the contract?
10. Responsible officer: Who within the organisation is responsible for each of these contract(s)? Please provide me with contact details including name, job title, contact number and email address.

  • Response: As above. 
2022-150Animal research14/10/2022

Please advise me how many animals, and of which species, were subject to scientific research, covered by ASPA in each year from 2016 to 2021 inclusive.

  • Response: None

Please advise me of the specific purposes for which the procedures were conducted.

  • Response: N/A

Please advise me of the severity classifications for the above procedures.

  • Response: N/A

Please provide me with the AWERB (Animal Welfare and Ethical Review Body) minutes and reports from 2016 to 2021 inclusive.

  • Response: N/A

 

2022-144Scanning20/10/2022

1. Does the council have a dedicated on-site scanning team for paper records?

  • Response: No

a) If so, how many FTE are within the team?

  • Response: N/A

b) What volumes are the team scanning on a daily/weekly/monthly/annual basis?

  • Response: N/A

c) Are the team scanning legacy records or day forward, or both?

  • Response: N/A

d) What hardware and software is used by the team?

  • Response: N/A

e) Is the hardware leased, rented or was it purchased outright?

  • Response: N/A

f) Who is responsible within the council for the procurement of hardware and software? Please supply contact details.

  • Response: N/A

2. If the council does not have a dedicated on-site scanning team, is there a contract for outsourced document scanning provisions?

  • Response: No

a) If so, who is this contract with?

  • Response: N/A

b) What is the value of the contract?

  • Response: N/A

c) When is the contract due for renewal?

  • Response: N/A

3. Does the council have on-site facilities to store paper records?

  • Response: Yes

4. Does the council have contract(s) for off-site storage?

  • Response: No

a) If so, who is the contract with?

  • Response: N/A

b) Does the contract include scan-on-demand or digitising services?

  • Response: N/A

c) If so, what volumes of pages/images are scanned daily/weekly/monthly/annually?

  • Response: N/A

d) What is the annual cost for outsourced scanning - either on-demand or scheduled?

  • Response: N/A

5. Are there departments within the council that scan their own documents locally?

  • Response: Yes

a) If so, what hardware and software is used to manage this?

  • Response: Not known

b) Are volumes captured? If so, what are they?

  • Response: Unable to determine

c) What types of documents are scanned?

  • Response: Unable to determine

6. Who in the council is responsible for records/document management programmes/systems? Please provide contact details.

  • Response: There is not one single person responsible for this function.

7. Who in the council manages the contract(s) relationships with hardware providers and outsourced storage or scanning providers? Please provide contact details

  • Response: N/A

 

2022-157Licensing and patents25/10/2022

1. Can you release your internal strategy, policy, or any kind of public statement regarding the technology transfer (e.g. licensing, patenting) of COVID-19-related health technologies? Has anything changed since September 2021?

  • Response: Nothing has changed since September 2021.

2. Does the institution have a formal policy on licensing and patenting of health technologies? If yes, please provide a link or PDF to the relevant policy document. Has anything changed since September 2021?

  • Response: No

3. Has the university considered updating their strategy regarding the licensing and patenting of health technologies since September 2021 in light of the pandemic?

  • Response: Our response to Q6 in 2021 described the approach we had taken to update our strategy regarding the licensing and patenting of health technologies in light of the pandemic. Since that response we have completed the actions listed in this area listed in our response and no further work has been undertaken.

4. Please provide an Excel spreadsheet with headings as displayed below with all the COVID-19-related health technologies LICENSED by the university AND specify which countries they were licensed in AND specify whether they are exclusive or non-exclusive licenses (time period: September 2021-October 2022). Health Technology Licensed/Country of Licensing/Type of License (exclusive or non-exclusive)

  • Response: We have none.

5. Please provide a list of patents granted to your organisation for any COVID-19-related health technologies listed by patent family, indicating countries/regions in which the patent has been granted (time period: September 2021-October 2022).

  • Response: None

6. Does the institution have any plans on signing up to the Open-COVID pledge or any similar initiative that seeks to minimise intellectual property rights barriers during the COVID-19 pandemic (since January 2020)? If yes, please specify. If the university has engaged in specific discussions with Open-COVID pledge, please provide files related to these meetings if they took place since September 2021.

  • Response: The College does not have any plans to sign up to the Open-COVID pledge or any similar initiatives that seek to minimise intellectual property rights barriers during the COVID-19 pandemic. In terms of specific discussions about the Open-COVID pledge, we have now completed the actions in this area listed in our response to Q6 in 2021 and no further work has been undertaken.

7. Has the institution considered the licensing of COVID-19 related health technologies to the Covid Technology Access Pool (C-TAP) or the Medicines Patent Pool (MPP) during the pandemic (since January 2020)? If yes, please specify. If the university has engaged in specific discussions with either C-TAP and/or MPP please provide files related to these meetings if they took place since September 2021.

  • Response: No

8. Has the institution signed on to the AUTM COVID-19 Licensing Guidelines (since January 2020)? If yes, please specify. If the university has engaged in specific discussions with AUTM on these guidelines please provide files related to these meetings if they took place since September 2021.

  • Response: No

9. Has the institution engaged with the WHO technology transfer hub during the pandemic (since January 2020)? If yes, please specify. If the university has engaged in specific discussions with the WHO technology transfer hub please provide files related to these meetings if they took place since September 2021.

  • Response: No

10. Has the institution shared their best practices on the technology transfer of COVID-19 health technologies with other institutions (since January 2020)? If yes, please specify. If the university has engaged in specific discussions with other universities on COVID-19 health technologies in the context of technology transfer, please provide files related to these meetings if they took place since September 2021.

  • Response: No

 

2022-158IT31/10/2022

Which ITSM service tool do you currently use?

  • Response: Bespoke, developed on site - not a package.

When will you next be carrying out a review of this ITSM service tool?

  • Response: Not under review - agile development

As part of any review, will you be looking at other ITSM service tools ?

  • Response: N/A

Who is the best contact in relation to your ITSM service tool ?

  • Response: N/A, we are not considering replacing our in-house developed software

What are their contact details ?

  • Response: N/A
2022-149Industrial action01/11/2022

1. The total amount of money given by the University to students in relation to industrial action by the University and Colleges Union in 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022.

  • Response: With the assumption this question means 'money given as the result of a complaint' the answer is nil.

2. The number of students who requested a partial or full refund in relation to such industrial action in those years.

Response:

  • 2018: 124
  • 2019: data not available (no strike action taken so no dedicated records kept)
  • 2020: 24
  • 2021: 6
  • 2022: 17

3. The total number of successful applications for a partial or full refund in relation to such industrial action in those years.

  • Response: With the assumption this questions means 'money given as the result of a complaint' the answer is nil.
2022-156Arms trade03/11/2022

1. Have you ever had participation in careers fairs or recruitment events on campus with the above listed?

  • Response: Yes.

Please provide the company name (or list of companies by name), UK military or the Ministry of Defence and the event titles and dates if applicable

  • Response: Virtual careers fair 2020: 253 (London) Provost Company, Royal Military Police Reserves registered, Nov 2020

2. Does your university have graduate schemes with the above listed company? (for the last 5 years)

  • Response: Yes.

Please provide the company name (or list of companies by name), UK military or the Ministry of Defence and the department or programmes involved.

Response:

  • Raytheon UK - UK-wide graduate opportunities
  • BAE - Graduate Management Consultant, Graduate Data Consultant, Graduate Manufacturing Electronic Engineer, Graduate
  • Thales Group - Bid and Programme Management, Engineer Software, Legal and Contracts, HR, Procurement, Engineer Systems
  • Airbus – Airbus Global Graduate Programme

3. Does your university have intermediate, advanced, higher or degree apprenticeships or technical training sponsored by the above listed company? (within the last 5 years)

  • Response: No

Please provide the company name (or list of companies by name), UK military or the Ministry of Defence AND the apprenticeship name, department and programme.

  • Response: N/A
2022-094Student numbers09/11/2022

1. The total number of students studying at your university, by year from 2010.

2. The number of students seeking support from the university's Wellbeing Service - or other university, in-house, mental health support service - by year from 2010.

Response: This question isn't clear and we've provided two sets of data below.

  • Numbers of students seeking counselling - 2018-19: 551, 2019-20: 438, 2020-21: 452, 2021-22: 365*
  • Numbers of students disclosing a long term mental health condition to the institution - 2018-19: 623, 2019-20: 705, 2020-21: 737, 2021-22: 628.

*2021-22 has incomplete data

2022-140Mental health09/11/2022

1. How many students are currently on the wait list to access mental health support services?

  • Response: This information is not available.

2. How long is the average wait for students to access your mental health support services in days/weeks?

  • Response: 18 days (year average)

3. Please can you provide the number of referrals to mental health services for your students:
Per month for 2022 (year to date), 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017. If a breakdown by month is not possible, please provide a breakdown by year, or year to date.

Response: This question isn't clear. We can provide two sets of data:

  • Numbers of students seeking counselling - 2017: N/A, 2018-19: 551, 2019-20: 438, 2020-21: 452, 2021-22: 365*
  • Numbers of students disclosing a long-term mental health condition to the institution -  2017: N/A, 2018-19: 623, 2019-20: 705, 2020-21: 737, 2021-22: 628

Information for 2017 is not available. *incomplete data

4. How many mental health counsellors you currently employ in 2022.

  • Response: Six

5. How many mental health counsellors you employed in 2019.

  • Response: Six
2022-166COVID-1911/11/2022

1. The total amount of money paid directly to students in compensation or refunds due to disruption to teaching and learning caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

  • Response: £10,500

2. The total number of students who received any form of compensation or refund due to disruption to teaching and learning caused by the COVID-19 pandemic

  • Response: 7

Please note that this data relates only to 'money given as a result of a formal complaint'; we are not aware of money paid as a result of 'any scheme set up by the university, or any other route for payment of monies directly to students'. It also relates only to complaints which have been judged to relate chiefly/narrowly to disruption to teaching and learning (i.e. not to any other COVID-related matters such as mask wearing requirements).

2022-099Student mental health14/11/2022

1. Please can you provide data on walk-in numbers for your mental health services for students from March 2019 to present day.

  • Response: Numbers of students seeking counselling - 2017: N/A, 2018-19: 551, 2019-20: 438, 2020-21: 452, 2021-22: 365*

Information for 2017 is not available. *incomplete data

2. Please can you provide data on waiting times for your mental health services for students from March 2019 to present day.

  • Response: 18 days (year average)

3. If any forms of support had to shut, when did they close and, if applicable, when did they resume?

  • Response: N/A - none closed

4. What services are offered at your university to care for students who may be struggling with suicidal thoughts or self-harm?

  • Response: One-to-one counselling, and a range of online self-help resources.

5. Are students who may be struggling with suicidal thoughts or self-harm prioritised in the queue of appointments?

  • Response: Yes
2022-101Student mental health14/11/2022

1. How many support service staff have been employed with a mental health remit (e.g. counselling, wellbeing) in each of the last 5 academic years? If a breakdown is not available for mental health staff, please provide a total for the closest possible category.

  • Response: Six

2. Budget for mental health support for each of the last 5 academic years, and where possible a breakdown on how that money is allocated, e.g. staff, marketing, equipment etc.

Response:

  • Mental Health Advisory Service - 2019-20: £155,399.63, 2020-21: £158,817.58, 2021-22: £98,355.06
  • Counselling Service - 2019-20: £282,195.16, 2020-21: £307,005.50, 2021-22: £296,889.48
  • Disability Support for students* - 2019-20: £305,933.50, 2020-21: £443,537.06, 2021-22: £475,809.05.

* This budget supports students with physical and mental health disabilities, although the largest single item by far is for mental health mentoring.

3. Number of students seeking mental health support in each of the last 5 academic years.

Response: This question isn't clear. We can provide two sets of data:
  • Numbers of students seeking counselling - 2017: N/A 2018-19: 551, 2019-20: 438, 2020-21: 452, 2021-22: 365*
  • Numbers of students disclosing a long term mental health condition to the institution - 2017 N/A, 2018-19: 623, 2019-20: 705, 2020-21: 737, 2021-22: 628

Information for 2017 is not available. *incomplete data

4. Average waiting time for mental health support in each of the last 5 academic years.

  • Response: 18 days (year average)

5. Any internal reports or reviews relating to mental health provision over the last 5 years.

  • Response: See attached
2022-169Telephony18/11/2022

1. What telephone system does the organisation use?

  • Response: Mitel

2. How many users use the telephone system?

  • Response: Approximately 2,000

3. Is the telephone system cloud-based?

  • Response: No

4. When will the organisation next review their telephony contracts?

  • Response: 2024

5. Who is the main network provider the organisation uses for its mobile phones?

  • Response: EE

6. How many employees have a mobile phone supplied by the organisation?

  • Response: Approximately 60

7. What is the date that the organisation will next review its main mobile phone contract?

  • Response: 2024

8. What video conferencing solutions does the organisation use?

  • Response: Teams, Collaborate, Panopto, Mitel Video Conf

9. Does the organisation run webinars or online events?

  • Response: Yes

10. Does the organisation provide 'click to chat' functionality on its website?

  • Response: Partially (Library Services)
2022-170Annual reports18/11/2022

Could you please provide your draft annual report?

Could you please provide your going concern statement (both of which should be with the auditors now with any qualifications the auditors have made). Could you please provide your OFS 5 year projections?

  • Response: We are refusing your request as it is commercially sensitive. Section 43(2) of the FOI Act exempts institutions from the requirement to disclose information which would be likely to prejudice the commercial interests of Birkbeck or anyone else. Our view is that disclosure could undermine Birkbeck's ability to negotiate successful commercial and business contracts.
2022-153HR - job titles21/11/2022

Please provide the following information for the year 2021-2:
1. A comprehensive list of employee job titles which feature any of the following phrases: equality, diversity, inclusion, wellbeing, carbon, energy, net zero, climate, change maker, race, BAME, LGBTQ+, sustainability, art, awareness, involvement, culture, solidarity, intersectionality, or green.

Response:

  • Head of HR Strategy, Policy and Equality and Diversity
  • Student Services Manager (Advice and Wellbeing)
  • Head of Student Wellbeing Services
  • Wellbeing Administration Team Leader
  • Wellbeing Service Administrator
  • Wellbeing Services Administrator
  • Wellbeing Services Administrator
  • BAME ISSF Intern

2. The total number of employees with each job title.

  • Response: As above, each is one role.

3. A total cost for the listed roles, including salary and employer pension contributions. There is no need to provide individually identifiable data.

  • Response: £375,754.00
2022-152IT24/11/2022

Requesting for information that relates to the organisation's contracts around ICT contract(s) for server hardware maintenance, server virtualisation licenses and maintenance and storage area network (SAN) maintenance/support.

Response: We are unable to fully respond to your request as some data is not available.

We can answer:
1. Contract title: Virtualisation
2. Type of contracts (ABOVE): Includes virtualisation, servers and SAN
3. Existing/current supplier: DTP Ltd
4. Brand: HPE
5. Operating system/software (platform): vSphere host running Windows Server, Linux client VMs
6. Annual average spend: £23,250 (VMWare), £6,700 (HPE Hardware), £8,000 (HPE Storage) + VAT
7. Contract duration: 5 + 1 year
8. Contract expiry date: 2024
9. Contract review date: 2023
10. Purchase of servers: 2018
11. Number of physical server: 12
12. Number of virtual servers: +/-300
13. Brief contract description: Includes hardware and firmware support and application of updates as well as VMWare software support and annual renewal
14. Contract owner: IT Infrastructure Group