Freedom of Information Publication Scheme explanatory notes
Freedom of Information Publication Scheme explanatory notes
1. Legal requirement
- Adopting a publication scheme is a requirement of the
Freedom of Information Act 2000. This Act promotes greater
openness and accountability across the public sector by
requiring all 'public authorities' to make information
available proactively through a publication scheme.
- 'Public authorities' are defined in the Act and include
universities, further education colleges and sixth form
colleges.
2. What is a Publication Scheme?
- A Publication Scheme is a guide to the specific
information held by public authorities. The information is
split into seven "classes". The University is committed to
reviewing and updating its information guide on a regular
basis.
3. The model Publication Scheme for Universities
- The University of Essex has adopted the Model Publication Scheme 2009
developed for Universities and is therefore committed to publishing the
information it describes.
- This model is designed for Universities across England,
Wales and Northern Ireland. The purpose of the model is to
save institutions duplicating effort in producing individual
schemes and to assist the public in accessing information
from across the sector.
There is more information about model publication schemes
on the
Information Commissioner's website.
4. Who we are
The University of Essex,
based at Wivenhoe Park, Colchester, received its
Royal
Charter in 1965. It is one of the UK's leading academic institutions and
has an international reputation for the quality of its research and
teaching. The University has academic
faculties and departments
spanning the Humanities, Social Sciences and Science and Engineering.
There are currently more than 11,000 students at the University,
including over 3,000 postgraduates, 25% of these within the
Graduate School. The University is an international community with
students from more than 130 countries. In recent assessments, Essex has
regularly ranked among
the top ten UK universities for the quality of its research, with many
of its departments rated as 'outstanding' by international standards.
The close knit Colchester campus has shops, banks and
restaurants and the
University is able to offer
accommodation to a high proportion of its students. As part of its
excellent range of sporting and
leisure facilities - all on the campus - the University boasts four
squash courts, fitness gym, climbing wall and an eighteen-hole frisbee golf
course. The Arts are also well
catered for at Essex - there is a University Theatre, an Exhibition Gallery,
and an extensive programme of musical and dramatic events.
The University's links with industry are co-ordinated by the
Research and Enterprise Office,
which provides services covering:
Technology Auditing: Research activities of individual departments are
audited to help pinpoint and develop ideas with commercial potential;
Intellectual
Property Rights: All University patents are held within and exploited by
Wivenhoe Technology Limited, a University owned company; and
Links with Industry: Links are continuously being made with industry to
secure funding for research and student sponsorship, and to introduce
University inventions to the commercial market.
As a public authority, the University has responsibility for publishing
and maintaining its own Publication Scheme, as well as those relating to its
wholly-owned subsidiaries:
5. Accessing information covered by the Publication Scheme
- The classes of information we publish are described in
the main part of the scheme.
- Next to each class we have indicated a description of
the class, the format in which it is available, and whether
charges apply to material in each class.
- To request information available through our Publication
Scheme, please contact Sara Stock (University Records
Manager)
6. What about information not covered by the Publication Scheme?
- You have the right under the Freedom of Information Act
2000 to request any information held by a public authority
which it has not already made available through its
Publication Scheme.
- Requests have to be made in writing (which includes
e-mail) and, in general, public authorities have 20 working
days to respond. They may charge a fee, which will have to
be calculated according to Fees Regulations. They are not
required to release information to which an exemption in the
Act legitimately applies. However, public authorities may be
required to explain to the applicant why they are not
releasing information and they may also have to justify this
to the
Information Commissioner.
If you would like to ask for information not covered in
our scheme please contact the
Governance office.
7. Feedback
- It is important that this Publication Scheme meets your
needs. If you find the Scheme difficult to understand,
please let us know. We also welcome suggestions as to how
our Scheme might be improved. Any questions, comments or
complaints about this Scheme should be sent in writing to
the
Information Manager.
- If we are unable to resolve any complaint, you can
complain to the
Information Commissioner, the independent body who
oversees the Freedom of Information Act:
Contact Details
Information Commissioner
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
8. Further information
More information about the Freedom of Information Act is available on the
Information
Commissioner's website.