SHARING INFORMATION ON PROGRESS Plymouth Business School – Plymouth University 2016

1. Executive Summary

Plymouth University (PU) has a longstanding commitment to education for

sustainability dating from 1973 when it pioneered one of the UK’s earliest

interdisciplinary programmes in environmental sciences. The embedding of ethical

and sustainability education across other disciplines was recognised in 2005 when

the UK government funded the establishment of a national Centre of Excellence

called the Centre for Sustainable Futures (CSF), which leads the university’s on-

going commitment to embed environmental, sustainability and ethical education

across the subject spectrum, with the result that some 49% of all programmes reflect

sustainability principles.

In parallel with the University strategy Plymouth Business School (PBS) has

continuously reviewed its curriculum to reflect core values. In 2011 PBS initiated a

first year curriculum review and launched the Inspiring Futures Project which

attracted UK governmental funding via the Higher Education Authority (HEA). The

review incorporated sustainability as part of the core curriculum in part delivered

through classroom interventions and in part through the delivery of a live community-

based consultancy projects underpinned by sustainable planning principles. In

addition the Faculty offered a number of co-curricular sustainability modules which

attracted high student demand – with over 400 students undertaking an intensive co-

curricular Certificate in Sustainable Business. This curriculum has now been

embedded as a for-credit Stage 2 elective entitled Shaping The Future which

involves students developing knowledge, strategic auditing and practice-based

sustainability skills.

This SIP provides a full account of the University’s strategic approach to the

principles, its curriculum and research activity and stakeholder engagement. The

activity reported underpins the PRME principles and highlights the activity of the

Plymouth Business School (the PRME relationship owner).

2. Overview Plymouth University’s Approach to Sustainability

In terms of corporate responsibility, the university is leading by example.

Sustainability is a forward-looking corporate commitment at Plymouth formalised by:

establishing the inter-disciplinary Institute for Sustainability Solutions

Research in 2011

publishing an annual stakeholder-written Sustainability Report (since 2011)

the creation of a new Executive Directorate (Finance and Sustainability)

responsible for delivering sustainability,

including sustainability in the university’s 2020 strategy, which adopts a tri-

cameral approach linking teaching, research, and estates functions relating to

sustainability

establishing governance structures to oversee the University’s sustainability

performance through the Sustainability Advisory Group, accountable to the

University Executive (UEG).

making self-leadership for sustainability training available to all staff

maintaining funding to the CSF to further drive to embed sustainability across

all the university’s functions

CSF is maintained as a key part of the university's Teaching and Learning

Support

Additional information about the University’s strategic incorporation of the principles of sustainability is available at:

https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/your-university/sustainability

A comprehensive report of the University’s sustainability performance across all areas can be found here:

https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/uploads/production/document/path/6/6752/SUSTAINABILITY_REPORT_2016_final.pdf

Further links to sustainability education at Plymouth is available at:

https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/your-university/sustainability/sustainability-education

3. Overview of Practical Actions

Full details of the University and PBS actions are highlighted in section 4 below. However in summary the University continues to include sustainability and ethics within its corporate 2020 strategy. It provides central funding to the Centre for Sustainable Futures thereby ensuring that the principles of environmental, sustainability and ethical education guide and inform our approach to research, teaching and practice. For example, as part of this strategy the University has supported a series of self-development workshops on sustainable leadership.

In 2013 the University provided strategic support to establish the University of Plymouth Hartsook Centre for Sustainable Philanthropy – a research and teaching institute committed to raising the profile of global sustainable and ethical fundraising.

In addition the central University facilities and services support the Plymouth Business School in delivering transformative business education premised on the principles of sustainability, ethics and flourishing leadership. This is in part evidenced through the establishment in 2011 of the Futures Entrepreneurship Centre which is integral to the PBS curriculum and the University of Plymouth Hartsook Centre for Sustainable Philanthropy.

4. Assessment of Progress Made in the past reporting period

4.1PRME Principle 1 – Purpose

An extract form Plymouth University’s Transforming Lives Strategy 2020 sets out the mission as follows:

Through teaching, learning, research and innovation we work in partnership with our students, staff, community, busies and the professions to drive social inclusion, economic prosperity and sustainability in Plymouth, across the nation and throughout the world.

Our values are centred on being: spirited, connected, creative, pioneering, expert, empowering and enterprising.

Further detail on the strategy is available here:

https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/your-university/about-us/strategy-2020

The Faculty of Business (FoB) 2020 vision is to be recognised worldwide for the enterprising culture, sustainability orientation and socially responsible values of our research and learning environment that allows us to produce and disseminate useful knowledge. Such recognition will be reflected in the FoB’s enhanced performance as regards the KPIs agreed locally within the Faculty, the UoP, and those dictated nationally/internationally.

At PBS the purpose is to graduate students who understand the principles of socially responsible leadership and who are able to exhibit the skills and competences to deliver social value to organisations. To support this objective ethics, sustainability and environmental awareness are a core component of two first year modules in PBS - STO 100 The World of Enterprise and ENT1000PP Entrepreneurial Thought and Action). These modules introduce students to the concepts of social enterprise, sustainability and ethical business and culminates in students completing a live consultancy project (Inspiring Futures) which is external client facing. This curriculum approach is premised in the principles of Education for Sustainability (EfS) as it engages students in and connects them with community-based learning.

4.2 PRME Principle 2 Values

The following extract from the University’s 2020 strategy sets out the strategy and values:

Through teaching, learning, research and innovation we work in partnership with our students, staff, community, business and the professions to drive social inclusion, economic prosperity and sustainability in Plymouth, across the nation and throughout the world.

Our values are centred on being: spirited, connected, creative, pioneering, expert, empowering and enterprising.

The University has undertaken a number of structural changes to foreground sustainability across aspects of service delivery. The Dean of Science and Engineering holds the executive brief for sustainability within the University Executive Group (UEG), the prime decision-making body for the University. This accountability ensures that the principle of sustainability remains integral to University planning.

In addition the University has established a new executive directorate responsible for delivering sustainability, Finance and Sustainability. Sustainable procurement is

within the auspices of the Finance directorate, but since the last PRME submission, further operations have been undertaken under Estates and Facilities. The University's overall sustainability performance is monitored and supported by the cross-institutional Sustainability Advisory Group, which is a sub-committee of the University Executive Group (UEG).

A commitment to sustainability is central to the University’s 2020 strategy, which adopts a tri-cameral approach linking teaching, research, and estates functions relating to sustainability. Further, a new Strategic Framework has been produced since 2013 which underlines the University's commitment to reducing its environmental impact and to 'hardwiring sustainability into our teaching, research and operations'.

PU’s commitment to values-based action is further supported through the provision of centrally funded staff development workshops. Self-Leadership for Sustainability training is available to all staff and since 2013 a series of 8 hour intensive courses have been delivered to 165 PU staff with a further 6 student development courses delivered to 117 individuals. PU has disseminated this knowledge and expertise by delivering 4 externally delivered programmes to 122 regional business participants. Building on this experience new 8 hour intensive courses on Self-Leadership for Resilience were developed in 2015, which have, to-date been delivered to 75 PU staff.

The University’s commitment to a sustained level of staff development premised in the principles of sustainability, the environment and ethics, coupled with a commitment to delivering programmes for students and external stakeholders is evidence of the level of commitment to the principles which underpin PRME.

4.4.PRME Principle 3 – Method

An audit of University programme provision (undertaken by CSF in 2012)

demonstrates that 49% of all programmes include sustainability education.

Further detail provided in this report refers to the activity in the Plymouth Business

School (the PRME relationship owner).

In 2011 the Sustainability in the Curriculum project established the objective of

including at least one sustainability learning outcome at each level of programmes

and to include sustainability objectives within all module descriptions across the

School. Additionally a co-curricular strategy was undertaken to stimulate the

selection by students of sustainability oriented modules in the curriculum.

Since the launch of the Certificate in Sustainable Business in 2011 over 400

students have completed the programme and in 2013 a Stage 2 elective module

Shaping the Future was introduced to the business curriculum. Since 2013 the

module has attracted over 70 students annually.

In 2012 the Business School launched the Futures Entrepreneurship Centre. The

key objectives of Futures are: to create a sustainable entrepreneurial eco-system

(which includes the national Social Enterprise University Enterprise Network (SE-

UEN); to develop an curriculum premised on the concepts of sustainability and social

enterprise; and to provide a focal point for curriculum and practice-based research.

The Futures Centre is completely focused around the creation of sustainable

programmes and networks of activity designed to deliver regional and national

economic impact.

Since 2014 the work of the Centre has: supported over 17,000 people; worked with

over 300 organisations from public, private, social enterprise and the community

sector; has worked with over 4000 pupils in 26 schools; engaged over 700 students

in live community consultancy projects; secured over £100,000 of social investment

to help local enterprises grow; through curriculum interventions developed a wide

range of business skills and created a better understanding of leadership,

sustainability and global business; invested £6,000 in student-led businesses and

improved networking for students, businesses and the University across local,

national and international markets.

Some key interventions include:

Farm Shop Kenya – securing Comic Relief grant funding to set up social

enterprise franchisee farm shops to support Kenyan farmers.

Global Social Storm 24 Hour Hackathon – connecting students across UK,

Tasmania, Canada, USA , UAE and China to solve global problems as part of

the UN’s initiative to make primary education universally available

British Council India – a project to facilitate social enterprise dialogue across

HEI’s in India

Certificate in Sustainable Business: See The Big Picture - extracurricular

programme delivered to c.100 students annually

Catalyst – support for students to undertake a 5 day leadership course

(founded in principles of sustainability) provided by Embercombe a social

enterprise in Devon

Collaborative Leadership for Sustainability: Green Thinking – delivery of

a 10 week extracurricular course for students focussed on global citizenship

and flourishing leadership

500 word School Essay Competition – over 80 school children participated

in an essay competition focussed on principles of ethics and sustainability

Plymouth Community Health Care Leadership Development – a

longitudinal executive and team development programme focussed on

transforming and flourishing leadership with over 150 participants engaged in

action learning projects

Digital Safety in Schools Programme – worked with approximately 2,000

young people and 200 adults in the region to understand the principles of

digital citizenship and safe on-line behaviours.

BETA Enterprise Programme – a longitudinal support programme (with up

to £1,500 investment potential) for student led enterprises with sustainable

enterprise being a core focus

Inspiring Futures – a curriculum based programme to provide students with

live community based consultancy projects

More information about the Futures Entrepreneurship Centre can be found at:

futurescentre@plymouth.ac.uk

4.5.Principle 4 Research

The FoB and the Plymouth Business School have a growing reputation in the fields

of sustainable and ethical research. A recent example of the University and FoB

commitment to sustainability and ethics has been the launch in 2014 of the

University of Plymouth Hartsook Centre for Sustainable Philanthropy (HCSP). Two

key professorial appointments (Professor Jen Shang and Professor Adrian Sargeant)

lead the Centre which is focused around best practice knowledge and skills transfer

in the field of sustainable fundraising and philanthropy. The HCSP delivers industry

and academic programmes (including doctoral programmes) and undertakes

research in a niche field of sustainable decision making. It is the only academic

Centre in the world with an explicit focus on growing philanthropy. It aims to achieve

that growth by enhancing how donors and philanthropists experience philanthropy

around the world. To that end the Centre is proud to be the home of the new field of

philanthropic psychology and in 2015 created the world's first psychology lab to be

focused on conducting experiments specifically in this domain. Since its inception the

Centre now has around 600 participants comprising students, members of the British

public and fundraisers from around the world. The Centre also established the

fundraising think tank Rogare. Rogare is a network of professional fundraisers from

around the world who come together to highlight and discuss issues that are either

'under-thought' or 'under-researched' in the domains of fundraising and philanthropy.

In 2017 the network will expand into North America and will have upwards of 120

professionals who have competed for a place on the panel. The panel makes

recommendations for research projects the Centre will undertake, undertakes

discussions/projects of its own and helps us disseminate both strands of thought

back out to the professional community. Rogare ensures that our work is both

rigorous and practically relevant.

The Centre conducts bespoke research in the USA, Canada, Australia, Norway and

the UK. In addition it has a number of global projects, notably a partnership with the

Resource Alliance to look at how 'Tomorrow's Philanthropy' might be engineered to

make it more sustainable in the face of increasing global challenges. In 2017 the

Centre will also be working with ten nonprofit partners to conduct a major new study

of how relationship fundraising is practiced and to conduct a large scale series of

field experiments, deliberately engineering fundraising communications to enhance

the quality of the donor experience.

The Centre is also working with professional associations around the world to create

for the first time a global network of professional qualifications, allowing fundraisers

to be exposed to a body of knowledge appropriate for their current or planned role.

We have built a Certificate, Diploma and Advanced Diploma in Fundraising and our

programs are now taught in multiple countries around the world including the United

States. At Plymouth University the Centre is working to build an undergraduate

pathway that will prepare students for a career in the voluntary sector as either a

nonprofit marketer or fundraiser.

More information about the HCSP can be found at:

https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/schools/plymouth-business-school/hartsook-centre-for-

sustainable-philanthropy

The Business School is also an active participant in the global 50+20 forum which is

setting standards for the review of curriculum and programmes to include globally

responsible practices and sustainability as overarching research and teaching

practice themes. This compliments the work of the Futures Entrepreneurship Centre.

FoB supports a wide number of PhD students engaged in sustainability pedagogy

and sustainable leadership linked to the Futures Entrepreneurship Centre the UoP

Harstook Centre for Sustainable Philanthropy, the Centre for Sustainable Futures

and across the FoB disciplinary teams.

In 2015 Dr Hilary Duckett the Director of the Plymouth Business School contributed a

chapter on ‘Building Better Business Schools for a Changing World’, to a book

entitled Systemic Entrepreneurship: Contemporary Issues and Case Studies,

(Maas, G and Jones, P. (Eds) (2015) Palgrave MacMillan: Hampshire. ISBN 978-1-

137-50979-6). The chapter focused on the three core principles underpinning

curriculum design within the School – Education for Sustainability; Education for

Humanity and Education for Life. In the chapter these principles are presented as an

alternative hegemony to techno-rational systems of business education and position

business schools as an entrepreneurial eco-system for transformative learning.

At an institutional level since 2014 the Institute for Sustainability Solutions Research

(ISSR) was subsumed into a new research institute, the Sustainable Earth Institute,

in 2015.

https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/research/institutes/sustainable-earth

4.5 Principle 5 – Partnership - description of stakeholder engagement and partnership

PBS is committed to building partnerships to support the vision and values of the

Faculty and University and establishing mutually beneficial ways of connecting

students with practice through a focus on work-based and problem-based learning.

PBS has extensive examples of staff and section 4.4 of this report has illustrated a

number of ways in which partnership working is adding value to curriculum design

and research and consultancy. Some specific profiles of staff engaged in PRME

related partnership activity include:

Professor Salima Paul – A Professor of Credit Management, specialising in

Credit Management, Treasury Management and Corporate Finance, Salima

focusses on the principle of ethical and sustainable credit management and

has published various papers in the fields of trade credit management, late

payment and credit risk/rating. She also promotes knowledge exchange and

her research is used by both academics and professionals. Salima’s recent

work relates to the “Evaluation of the Trade Credit Enterprise Finance

Guarantee” (TCEFG) pilot, commissioned by the British Business Bank

(BBB), looks at the operation and performance of the pilot scheme and

assesses the trade credit market. The recommendations from this study were

adopted by the BBB (at the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills,

BIS) and the scheme was duly discontinued (Report can be found at:

http://british-business-bank.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Annex-1-

TCEFG-Evaluation-Report-Final.pdf and the response of BBB to the report

can be found at::

http://british-business-bank.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Annex-3-

TCEFG-Evaluation-BBB-Response.pdf)

Salima’s work on late payment (funded by the Association of Chartered

Certified Accountants) was launched by BIS which, together with the

Chartered Institute of Credit Management, the Forum of Private Business and

Experian, published a summary of her research entitled "Getting Paid –

Lessons For and From SMEs" as a brief guide for business owners and

managers. (Further details from:

http://www.accaglobal.com/content/dam/acca/global/PDF-technical/small-

business/pol-tp-gp.pdf)

Salima’s partnership working is evidenced through extensive professional

memberships – she is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Credit

Management and of the Institute of Credit Association. She is also member of

numerous professional bodies including the European Institute of Purchasing

and Management, the Consultative Board of the British-West African Forum

for Trade and Business, the Bristol and West CICM Committee (Education

Officer), the British Accounting and Finance Association and the European

Accounting Association.

Professor Adrian Sargent and Professor Jen Shang – founders of the UoP

Hartsook Centre for Sustainable Philanthropy and globally acknowledged

experts in the field of philanthropy an d fundraising (see section 4.4 for

details)

Professor Andy Phippen Professor Social Responsibility in IT - Andy’s digital safety research has engaged approximately 2,000 young people and 500 adults across the UK and in Ireland to understand the principles of digital citizenship and sad and responsible on-line behaviours.  Andy’s work into the public engagement of ICT has involved partnership with private and public sector organisations including OSTED Facebook, Google and British Telecom.  His work is premised in the principle of ethical and professional practice in the use of ICTs in business and he contributes frequently to issues around digital rights, being an advisory council member of the Open Rights Group. 

Dr Victoria Hurth - Associate Professor in Marketing has recently published a

collaborative report for Friends of the Earth entitled Reforming marketing for

sustainability: towards a framework for evolved marketing. Full details are

available at: https://www.foe.co.uk/sites/default/files/downloads/reforming-

marketing-sustainability-full-report-76676.pdf. Her research with Friends of

the Earth aims to develop their Big Idea around sustainable consumption and

production with the view of reforming marketing for sustainability. As a result

of that research a Round table was hosted in 2015 involving high profile such

as the Chair of the Institute of Marketing and the Head of the CMI and Head

of Brand for B and Q. She is also working collaboratively on Sustainable

Marketing research in a Sustainable Hospitality context to impact on practice

and has developed an early partnership with Blueprint for Better Business

(which is the key organisation driving forward purpose driven organisations in

the UK) and is currently researching the definition and operationalisation of

purpose-driven organisations. An impact of the research will be national

dissemination to business leaders and managers in the UK through the

Chartered Management Institute.

Dr Simon Ashby – Associate Professor of Financial Services. His expertise

is in the field of corporate risk management and he has published many

academic papers and industry reports on risk, financial services regulation,

banking and insurance. Simon is actively involved in the UK financial services

sector and is a regular speaker at industry conferences and seminars and

provides training and consultancy services to regulators and financial

institutions. Simon is a Fellow of the Institute of Operational risk and Director

and Audit Risk Committee Chair of Plymouth Community Homes.

Simon was recently involved in the publication of a research report examining

the risk culture of financial organisations, which can be accessed at:

http://www.cimaglobal.com/Thought-leadership/Research-topics/Organisation

al-management/Risk-culture-in-financial-organisations/. This report was

motivated by recent major financial scandals (e.g. the LIBOR scandal), as well

as the global financial crisis, the aim being to find ways to improve the

responsible management of financial organisations. This report has helped to

influence global financial services policy on risk culture (by the Financial

Stability Board) and industry practice in a range of financial organisations.

4.6 Principle 6 – Dialogue

Since 2013 FOB has participated annually in the Economic & Social Research

Council (ESRC) Festival of Social Science with a theme each year on sustainability.

A range of staff in the Faculty (including many cited in section 4.5) have presented

workshops to staff, students and external stakeholders.

Staff in PBS are actively engaged in research and consultancy and regularly present

their work at industry and academic conferences. Section 4.5 above gives examples

of dialogue delivered through government and industry sponsored research.

As examples Professor Paul annually presents her research findings to the Credit

Collection and Risk Conference. This conference is attended by European credit

managers, bankers, insurance brokers and Dr Hilary Duckett and Dr Sue Kinsey are

involved in a collaborative UK Comic Relief funded (£678k) project which provides

annual monitoring and reporting on outcomes to the national funding body.

4.7 Principle 7 Organisational Practices

Plymouth University has achieved extensive external verification of its sustainability, ethical and environmental including:

Guardian University Awards : 2015 Winner for Social and Community Impact

Plymouth was the first university in the world to be awarded the Social Enterprise Mark in recognition of working as a genuine social enterprise, caring for communities and protecting the planet. As well as being a social enterprise in its own right, Plymouth University acts as a driving force, using world-class research and entrepreneurial expertise to boost social enterprise in the community, helping to drive sustainable growth by creating jobs, wealth and social cohesion. 

Four Green Gown Awards since 2011, including three in 2014 Zero waste to landfill in 2015/16 The University has over 290 bicycle parking spaces on campus University of Plymouth Student Union has NUS Green Impact ‘Excellence

Outstanding’ status 2013 RICS Global Showcase Award for Best Practice in Sustainable

Development in Higher Education Drake’s Place is a £1.4 million restoration project of the gardens and reservoir

completed in 2014 received a Green Flag award in 2015

Accredited Fairtrade University since 2009 and 75% increase in sales of Fairtrade in 2014-2015 since 2012-13.

Sustainable Restaurant Association 3 stars - first University in the UK to gain standard.

Food For Life Silver status for Drakes Cafe, Loafers, Reservoir Café, and Bronze status for John Bull café and hospitality menus.

Local sourcing - three-quarters of catering spend with South West suppliers. Good Egg award 2013 for the use of free range eggs. All useable food waste donated to local charities. 15% reduction in CO2e from gas and electricity since 2005. CHP plant (30% more efficient than traditional gas boilers) opened in 2012 to

provide heat to 50% of the campus. Carbon reduction projects saving over 1,100TCO2e over the past five years,

which is a £200,000 saving a year. Campus Information Control System is a sector first

36% reduction in water since 2005, down to 2.6m3 per student per annum. Rainwater harvesting in Roland Levinsky, Nancy Astor and Marine Buildings. Half hourly water meters across campus. Reduced waste generated to 22kg per student (upper UK University quartile). Recycled 42.3% of our waste in 2014/15. Zero waste to landfill in 2015/16. All unusable food waste from our cafes composted. 55% of staff and 80% of students travel sustainably to work by walking,

cycling or public transport in 2015. Social Enterprise Mark renewed 2015 – first University in the world to achieve

the SEM status

A link to Plymouth University’s 2016 full sustainability report can be found at:

https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/uploads/production/document/path/6/6752/SUSTAINABILITY_REPORT_2016_final.pdf

5 Perspectives of Stakeholders

Since 2011 Plymouth University bi-annually publishes a stakeholder-written Sustainability Report. The last sustainability report produced in 2014 is available at:

https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/uploads/production/document/path/3/3265/590568_240692_Sustainability_Report__NEW__2014.pdf

The report provides a full account of Plymouth University stakeholder sustainability reporting.

6 Reference to Any Metrics being used and developed

A number of evaluative reports have been referenced throughout this document. The University’s stakeholder report (section 5 above) contains extensive reference to environmental, ethical and sustainability metrics used to report on performance.

The Futures Centre for Entrepreneurship (section 4.4) records the volume of student, staff and stakeholder interactions.

The University’s Talent and Organisation Development Centre records the volume of staff engaged in staff development activity referenced in section 4.2.

The research performance of FoB and University staff is recorded quinquenially through REF (last report REF 2014).

7 Reflections on Challenges being Overcome

A number of challenges exist which are currently under review:

1. Mechanisms for accurately recording the volume of activity which can be recorded under PRME criteria at School, Faculty and University level

2. Communication systems for stakeholders to raise awareness of the range of opportunities (staff development, consultancy, external partnership working, extracurricular opportunities etc.) are under review. In PBS a central Faculty Life portal is being constituted which will host information for staff and students locally. Other channels such as Mobile with Plymouth University and the UPSU (University of Plymouth Student Union) App have been developed and are under review to provide regular information to a range of stakeholders.

8 Future Objectives

PU to continue to foreground sustainability through strategy, structure and operation

PU to continue to pursue external awards and certification as a means of systematizing its commitment to ethics, sustainability and the environment

PBS to continue to engage students in the Inspiring Futures Project, extracurricular activity, placements and work-based learning aligned to the principles of PRME

PBS to continue to innovate in the curriculum to deliver the principles of PRME, examples in 2016-2018 include (through HCSP) the launch of an undergraduate pathway in Charity Fundraising and a Masters in Fundraising Leadership; development of the sustainability curriculum and in the recently launched digital BSc Hons Management Practice and Degree Apprenticeship BSc Hons Professional Management Practice.

9 Contact Information

Dr Hilary Duckett,

Director Plymouth Business School,

Faculty of Business

Plymouth University,

Drake Circus,

Plymouth,

Devon

Hilary.duckett@plymouth.ac.uk