About PRAS
The Planning and Resource Allocation Section forms part of the Academic Administration Division within University Administration and Services, the University's central administration.
The principal responsibilities of the section are to:
- Provide strategic policy support to the Vice Chancellor, Pro-Vice-Chancellors and Senior Officers in all matters relating to planning and resource allocation.
- Initiate, co-ordinate and develop ad hoc projects in support of the University's strategy and policy.
- Engage with major external partners informed by the strategic interests of the University.
- Liaise and negotiate with Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE), other public sector agencies, sponsors and funders in support of University policy, including the preparation of responses to HEFCE consultations and policy documents.
- Review the national and global environment.
- Undertake, co-ordinate or provide assurance on regulatory funding returns for teaching, research and knowledge transfer to HEFCE.
- Manage the operational aspects of the Research Assessment Exercises and the subsequent Research Excellence Framework, including the systems and data assurance required to support the REF.
- Model and operate the University joint resource allocation methodology (JRAM), support the Monitoring and Moderation Board of the Conference of Colleges and the maintenance of the Collegiate Funding Formula. Develop the 123 costing model for infrastructure charges.
- Service the Full Economic Costing Senior Strategy Group and officers group.
- Provide support for the Capital Planning processes of the University.
- Manage the annual planning process, including further development of the provision of comparative information, qualitative analysis and advice.
- Provide support and briefing for planning committees, sub-committees and working groups.
- Initiate reviews for UAS departments and for the joint PRAC/Education Committee reviews of Divisions.
- Maintain the University's staff records database, report externally and internally on staff matters, and submit the annual HESA staff returns.
- Monitor and report upon performance indicators and league tables.
- Service working groups on fee policy, including work on benchmarking and costing prior to review of the variable fee. Annual updating of fee levels can now be found on the Student Fees and Funding website.
- Manage Oxford's subscription to Heidi, an online database containing data about UK higher education.
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