Introduction from the Chair

Message from Professor Bhaskar Vira, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Education and Environmental Sustainability

A world-class university needs high-quality, accessible teaching and learning spaces. These spaces attract the very best students and academics, enhance user experience, and support innovative teaching and collaboration across disciplines – central to our academic mission.

The General Board established the Programme Board for Education Space (PBES) to bring together colleagues from the Schools, the Estates Division, and University Information Services. PBES provides the strategic direction and framework for education space across the University. It does this by overseeing the strategic approach to how education spaces are defined, managed and used across the University, ensuring that they are accessible and visible, remain fit for purpose and able to support current and evolving approaches to teaching, assessment and digital delivery. Operational delivery continues to sit with Schools and Departments, supported by the Estates Division and UIS.

PBES contributes to the success of the delivery of the Strategic Estate Framework through the Education Space Representative, who is a voting member on each of the Principal Programme Management Boards.

The Board’s remit includes meeting the growing demand for education space, supporting the provision of high-quality IT and AV infrastructure, and defining, monitoring and refining the systems that underpin effective space management, particularly the University-wide room-booking and timetabling systems and services.