1. science
2. medicine

Cardiff University
MEDIC Forward Project
Transformation project
for the School of Medicine
Overview
The Review Process
The MEDIC Forward project aims to ensure that we have a
School of Medicine that is fit for the future.
Transformational change within the School of Medicine will be
delivered by completing a 5 step strategic review.
The environment within which we work is changing rapidly and it is essential that the
School of Medicine responds positively to these changes, allowing us to grow into a
world-leading medical school, underpinned by research excellence and outstanding
educational programmes. The MEDIC Forward project will provide the opportunity
to build on existing success, investigate new ways of working, and embrace positive
change that delivers real impact.
The MEDIC Forward project will undertake a major review to deliver transformational
change across the School. It will comprehensively review all functions within the School
of Medicine and implement the changes required to ensure that the School is well
placed to take advantage of future opportunities.
The work will further support the University’s ‘The Way Forward 2012-2017’ Strategy
to deliver a world-leading, research-excellent, educationally outstanding university. The
School of Medicine has declared its ambition to be a sustained presence amongst the
top 10 Schools of Medicine in the UK having already launched a pioneering programme
within Medical Education (C21).
Essentially, the review will help us to understand what we are doing really well,
identify where there are opportunities to improve, and, more importantly, to
identify where there are any gaps. We realise there are many areas of excellence
and perhaps areas where we need to make improvements to the way things are
currently done. Through this strategic review process we aspire to generate a real
team approach with clear direction and purpose. Dedicated resource will work with
the senior management team to ensure the review is carefully undertaken, allowing
sufficient time to gather the most relevant feedback to inform any future proposals.
1.
What do
we do
now...
The MEDIC Forward project is another positive step towards the delivery of professional
excellence through world leading research and high quality teaching.
The 5 step review process
2.
How do
we do it?
3.
Can we do
it better?
(Best
Practice)
4.
Design
New
Approaches
5.
Implement
“One Team”
Initiative
Going through the proposal in a little more detail:
The proposal for transformation
Institutes
At the moment we are proposing a change in name from Institutes to Divisions.
The proposal for transformation is displayed below. This is by no means a definite decision
but it was important that senior managers provided some initial thoughts on how the
School of Medicine could be structured in order to deliver professional excellence. The
proposal is subject to formal consultation with Trade Union Representatives, as well as
providing staff with plenty of opportunity to express views and thoughts in terms of how
it might work or how we might structure it differently.
• Proposing 4 Divisions and one Centre for Medical Education
• T he current Institutes of MEM (Molecular & Experimental Medicine) and PCPH (Primary
Care and Public Health) to merge to form one new Division of Population Medicine
• T he current Institute known as TIME (Translation, Innovation, Methodology and Engagement)
will be reviewed and realigned.
School of Medicine Draft Structure
• T here will be a new Division known as Clinical Innovation ‘hosted’ in the School on behalf
of the College of Biomedical and Life Sciences.
College of Biomedical & Life Sciences
Medical Education
We are already working differently in this area. The changes we have made so far have made
a huge difference, our new medical curriculum (C21) is viewed as a flagship programme for
the University and our research continues to receive international recognition. The proposed
structure should ensure that this progression is supported and continued.
School of Medicine
Divisions
Infection & Immunity
(I&I)
Psychological
Medicine & Clinical
Neurosciences
(PMCN)
Cancer & Genetics
(C&G)
Population Medicine
(PM)
Centre for Medical
Education
Support
Functions
Division of Clinical
Innovation
Assessment
Finance
TBC
Admissions
Estates
C21
IT
Quality Assurance
Research Office
PGT
Human Resources
Support Functions
These will be reviewed in line with our commitment to provide focused, professional,
efficient and effective support services working to the highest standards.
Consultation
It is important that everyone within the School of Medicine has the opportunity to input into
the change process. During this project, the School will enter into a minimum period of 90 days’
formal consultation with Trade Union Representatives. We will discuss and consult on proposals
that will achieve true strategic realignment of the School (rather than simply a restructure).
UG
Throughout this period, there will be opportunities for staff to discuss and express their views.
We fully expect the consultation to identify jobs growth in a number of key research and
teaching areas, while recognising that some roles will need to change.
Student Support
We understand that change can be worrying and unsettling for staff, however until the review
process is complete and until the consultation process has taken place, it would be inappropriate
and unhelpful to speculate on the future shape of the School, the number of staff needed and
future areas of research investment.
The review will take a number of months to complete and it is anticipated that the
proposed newly designed Divisions will be in place in time for the 2015/16 academic year,
and that these structures will be fully populated by January 2016. The diagram below
provides detail on the planned timeline for the project.
Start
Phase 1:
Initiation
REF
Results
Phase 2:
Discovery and Consultation
December 2014 – May 2015
Review
Proposed
Structures
Phase 3:
Validation
2015/16
Academic
Year
Phase 4:
Implementation
July 2015 – December 2015
New
Structures
Fully Live
Finish
Phase 5:
Embed One Team Initiative
December 2015 – August 2016
Key contacts
We know there will be times when staff will seek information perhaps more rapidly than
we are able to supply it. However we believe it is worth taking a reflective approach in order
to create a solid foundation to take us forward. We want this process to be as collaborative
as possible in order to get the best results for the School of Medicine and allow us to deliver
professional excellence.
Should you have any specific questions or queries regarding the
MEDIC Forward project please contact:
• Email feedback to MedicForward@cardiff.ac.uk
• Speak with your Trade Union Representative
• Open door policy with Dean of Medicine
Frequently asked questions (FAQs) will be developed throughout consultation and
shared with all staff.
Email: MedicForward@cardiff.ac.uk
Cardiff University is a registered charity, no 1136855
November 2014