| Description | Minutes of meetings of a committee known as the Committee on Overseas Secondments and Appointments which was revived in 1970 at the suggestion of the Committee of Principals and Deans, after not meeting for several years, to consider a letter received by the Vice-Chancellor from the chairman of the Inter-University Council for Higher Education Overseas seeking the assistance of UK universities in promoting relationships with overseas universities or with departments in them. This letter also set out suggested terms of reference as a guide, and the University of Birmingham Committee agreed to adopt them. These terms of reference centred on encouraging interest within the University in the development of higher education overseas by disseminating information and providing opportunities for members of the University to hear lectures and take part in discussion; assisting departments of the University to establish schemes of co-operation with similar departments in overseas universities; assisting the Inter-University Council and other organisations in the recruitment of academic, library and technical staff for overseas service; and furthering general co-operation between UK and overseas universities by encouraging exchanges and providing opportunities for training and experience for members of overseas institutions
Minutes of the first meeting of the revived Committee, held on 25 November 1970, include a copy of a report summarising the co-operative links which already existed between departments of the University of Birmingham and overseas Universities as well as copies of printed reports 'Partnership for Development' issued by the Inter-University Council and 'Education in Developing Countries' issued by the Ministry of Overseas Development. Minutes of the second meeting, held on 18 May 1971, record discussion at a meeting with visitors from the Inter-University Council which focused on areas where assistance was most required, and in particular the IUC Technical Training Scheme
No meetings were held between January 1972 and March 1974. Minutes of the meeting held on 14 March 1974 discuss the report of the Inter-University Council on the subjects of study of PhD theses by overseas students at UK universities. A copy of this report is loosely inserted in the volume following minutes of the meeting held on 31 January 1972
The constitution, membership, and terms of reference of the Committee were revised in 1974 following a review of all Senate committees, and it was now known as the Committee on Overseas Affairs. Its terms of reference were overseeing overseas secondments; acting as a link and channel for the dissemination of information between the Inter-University Council for Higher Education Overseas and other developmental agencies, and the University; and assisting in any matters relating to overseas students and postdoctoral workers in the university. This appears to have been a new focus of the committee, and continues functions and activities which had been carried out between 1955 and 1969 by the University of Birmingham Overseas Committee (see UB/COM/95)
Membership consisted of Professor J. D. Fage (chair); representatives from the professorial staff of each of the Faculties and the School of Education; and the University Librarian. The Advisor and Senior Tutor in English to Overseas Students was an ex-officio member, and additional staff could be co-opted to the committee
From its reconstitution in 1974, one of the main responsibilities of the committee was the recruitment of overseas students, and the minutes contain statistical information giving details about overseas students at Birmingham (as with UB/COM/95). The minutes also contain discussion of fees for overseas students; welfare needs of overseas students; entrance requirements including English language requirements; the revision of codes of practice for admissions procedures for overseas students; tuition fees for overseas students; induction and pre-sessional courses for overseas students; and the work of the English for Overseas Students Unit. Minutes of the meeting held on 7 December 1976 include a copy of the Overseas Affairs Committee recommendations for introductory courses for overseas students
The Committee continued to liaise with the Inter-University Council (IUC) and related bodies, and the minutes indicate that it was involved in the IUC Secondment Campaign which encouraged experienced British university staff holding established posts to take secondments of at least one year in universities in developing countries associated with the IUC. Minutes of the meeting held on 2 June 1975 include papers on the role of universities in rural development in the developing world, and a copy of the IUC report 'Co-operation Through Links: Report of a Working Party of the Inter-University Council for Higher Education Overseas'. Further papers on the role of British Universities in overseas development are contained with minutes of the meeting held on 29 September 1975, including a copy of the written response of Overseas Affairs Committee to the Swann Working Group on British Universities and Overseas Development
Minutes of the meeting held on 21 January 1976 include a report on the visit to the IUC by the Nigerian National Universities Commission Team as part of a campaign for the recruitment of university teachers, as well as a copy of the report of the Overseas Affairs Committee on Overseas Students in the University of Birmingham, advocating an increase in the numbers of overseas students. Minutes of the meeting held on 23 February 1977 include a copy of a note by a member of the Overseas Affairs Committee on the IUC' Working Party's report on Rural Development Overseas and the role of British universities. There is further discussion of the IUC report on Rural Development Overseas in minutes of the meeting held on 29 June 1977 which include a copy of the Swann Report for the IUC 'British Universities and Polytechnics and Overseas Development' and a committee discussion paper on the co-ordination of development studies. There is continued discussion of Development Studies at Birmingham in minutes of meetings held in the late 1970s, including the possible inclusion of Development Studies modules in existing courses. Minutes of the meeting held on 27 May 1981 include a report on an Inter-Faculty Studies course on 'Third World Studies'
Minutes of the meeting held on 22 November 1977 include a copy of extracts from the Review of Overseas Representation by the Central Policy Review Staff, chairman Sir Kenneth Berrill and minutes of the meeting held on 7 March 1978 include discussion of the reception of Berrill report, and record the committee's concerns about the threat posed by the report to the continued existence of the British Council and the Inter-University Council. There is also a paper on the Swann Report on Coordination of Development Studies. Minutes of meetings held later in 1978 record the University's strong opposition to the suggestion that the British Council and the Inter-University Council be dismantled. Minutes of the meeting held on 27 October 1980 include a copy of the report on the Future of the Inter-University Council for Higher Education Overseas for all members of the Inter-University Council, with possible formation of working party with Overseas Development Administration and British Council
Minutes of the meeting held on 22 May 1978 include a copy of a statement issued by black staff at the University of Rhodesia entitled 'The University of Rhodesia and Constitutional Change, making proposals for the Africanisation of the University and changes to course content, with comment by the Committee members. The minutes also note that the University had broken off its relationship with the Godfrey Huggins School of Medicine in Rhodesia. Minutes of this meeting include a copy of a register of staff with interests in overseas affairs
During the early 1980s the committee considered ways of improving the recruitment of overseas students, at the request of the Senate, and minutes of the meeting held on 25 November 1981 include a copy of the report of the Committee to Senate making recommendations for the promotion of the University through publicity, advertising, and information services including the possible commission of a film by the Television and Film Unit. References in minutes of meetings held in late 1983 indicate that the film had been made. Minutes of the meeting held on 1 December 1982 include a copy of a preliminary report on Overseas Student Recruitment compiled by the Adviser on Overseas Relations, identifying issues, setting out a suggested approach, and short and medium term measures to take.
Minutes of the meeting held on 3 March 1983 include a copy of a questionnaire and covering letter from the Guild of Students Welfare with the involvement of the Adviser on Overseas Relations explaining the purpose of the survey, to gain information about the experiences of overseas students in applying to and studying at University of Birmingham, and life in the city. Minutes of the meeting held on 11 May 1983 include selected comments of overseas students responding to the survey, and the full results of the survey are included with minutes of the meeting held on 22 February 1984
Minutes of the meeting held on 23 November 1983 include a photocopy of a special report issued in the University Bulletin on 27 June 1983 which takes the form of an interview with the Adviser on Overseas Relations on the recruitment of overseas students, the introduction of higher fees for overseas students, and the promotion of University of Birmingham to potential students. Minutes of meetings held in 1984 and 1985 refer to the activities of a Working Group on Overseas Students Welfare which organised social evenings and visits for overseas students.
Minutes of the meeting held on 7 June 1985 includes copies of promotional posters and leaflets for students from Hong Kong and Malaysia. This was the final meeting of the committee following a reorganisation. A Student Welfare Committee was formed to take over the remit of the Health Service Committee and the Committee for Disabled Members of the University. It would also include the Recognised Chaplains and the Tutor for Mature Students who did not at that time come within the formal committee structure. The responsibilities of the Committee on Overseas Affarirs in connection with the welfare of overseas students would be transferred to the new committee, and the interest in recruitment of new students was already duplicated the interest of the Pro-Vice-Chancellor's advisory group (possibly what became UB/COM/6) and were to be transferred entirely to that group |