Present: Bruce Ross, Roger Field, Dan Sauers, Neil Gow, Sally-Ann Fraser, Debbie Francis

Apologies: Warwick Scott, Andrew Sykes, Steve Wratten, Coralie Campbell, Bob Gidlow, Allan Sargison

The Format of the Meeting: (Agenda attached)

Those present applied a decision checklist to the issues raised by or on behalf of scanning group convenors. On the basis of the prioritisations obtained by this means, issues were then assigned for further analysis and action. Issues and issue assignments are illustrated below.

The Issues Presented and Assigned:

Issue	Raised by	Assigned to	Form of Output	Date next reported and to whom
Given the projected changes in the nature of the student clientele of the future - Will LU be able to meet the needs of this different looking group?	Client needs scanning group	Futures Analyst	Analysis: Discussion paper for all staff on projected nature of clientele	Tabled next meeting VCFG with a view to making recommendations and follow-up
An opportunity exists to differentiate Lincoln from its competitors by investing in recreational activities on campus. Do the benefits of this enhanced offering outweigh the costs?	"	Issues Team to be recruited by Sally-Ann Fraser. To include Neil Gow, Dir. Student Services, & CRC representative	Critical path for report procedures To produce a set of recommendations and some preliminary costings	To be reported to next meeting VCFG To Mgt Forum in early 1996
Issue	Raised by	Assigned to	Form of Output	Date next reported and to whom
There is a trend in many developed economies towards an oversupply of certain graduates. Does Lincoln have a responsibility to maximise its students' career prospects, or should these 'buyers beware'?	Client Needs Scanning Group	Consensus of the brief of APDs and through corporate development	group was that this management forum, and research and in programme	issue is already part of the brief of is currently being addressed, both corporate planning and
How can we use present and emerging multimedia technologies in the delivery of student programmes?	Information Technology Scanning Group	Information Technology scanning group (which includes multi-media appointee)	Specifications for pilots to be drafted Pilots to occur at discretion of multi-media appointee	For next mtg VCFG Reported to Mgt Forum mid 1996
How do we finance technological developments?	Information Technology Scanning Group	Information Technology Scanning Group to function as issues team	To produce a set of recommendations in report form	To be tabled at next meeting For next mtg VCFG and then subsequently Mgt Forum
How do we maximise benefits from course/software developments?	Information Technology scanning group	Information Technology scanning group as an issues team	Set up research team with multimedia appointee, business planner and senior management representative to report back to Mgt Forum by end of 1996	To report brief to next mtg VCFG Final report end 1996
How will LU respond to the twin issues of "accountability" and "responsibility" as they relate to personal/institutional productivity? It is possible to find ways to increase our productivity dramatically and still retain the quality of our service? Or is the quality that we perceive largely an illusion?	Business scanning group	Dan Sauers	For production of discussion paper on Teaching Portfolios Article on productivity in tertiary sector to be researched and written by individual designated by SMG	For next meeting Article brief to be presented at next meeting
Issue	Raised by	Assigned to	Form of Output	Date next reported and to whom
What alternate futures for rural production and science disciplines exist?	Rural Production and Science group	A Sykes and D Francis	2 scenarios to be written - based on issues identified in scanning process. For distribution to all staff in Division with accompanying questions	To be tabled at next VCFG
What configuration could an internationally based and globally 'portable' agriculture and science curriculum take?	"	Rural Production and Science scanning group	To produce a set of suggestions for discussion by Mgt Forum	Tabled at next VCFG Referred to February mtg of Mgt Forum
What are the likely trends in the public sector with regard to prevailing notions of efficiency, which drive reform? Current preoccupations with technical efficiency, for example, may be replaced in the future by a greater concern with allocative efficiency. The implications of such paradigm shifts for the tertiary sector need to be drawn out.	Public policy scanning group	Public policy scanning group	To develop and cost a brief for a commissioned report	To be presented to next meeting
What types of risk most apply to the tertiary sector? Risk will be examined from the perspectives of tertiary owners, (the Crown), consumers of tertiary services and tertiary managers.	Public Policy scanning group	Futures Analyst	To produce a paper for discussion by Mgt Forum in Feb/March	Progress to be reported at the next mtg of the VCFG

Recommendations re Format of Future Meetings:

1 The decision- analysis checklist should be applied impressionistically, rather than rigorously.

2 Each convenor to bring one issue to the meeting, rather than several.

3 A preliminary meeting should be held between Convenors and the Futures Analyst in order to discuss issue overlap and to refine suggestions regarding issue ownership.

Next Meeting Wednesday February 7 1996 10 am - 12 noon Venue to be advised