BUSINESS PLAN 2016-2017
MARSHALL AID COMMEMORATION COMMISSION
March 2016
FOREWORD
The Marshall Aid Commemoration Commission Act was passed by the British Parliament in 1953 in order to express gratitude to the American
people for the post-war support and assistance conceived by Secretary of State George C Marshall, now known as the Marshall Plan. The
Parliamentary Act created postgraduate Scholarships in the United Kingdom for American students with the potential to excel in their chosen
fields of study and future careers.
The Marshall Aid Commemoration Commission’s mission is to strengthen UK-US relations and to promote British influence in the United States
by providing Marshall Scholarships to young Americans who will become the leaders, opinion formers and decision makers of tomorrow. We
look for the best and brightest based on three criteria (set out on our website) academic merit, leadership and ambassadorial potential.
As alumni of British Universities and members of the community during their stay in Britain, Marshall Scholars create lasting bridges between
the United States and the United Kingdom and become advocates for greater depth and breadth of interaction, co-operation and mutual
understanding between the two countries. They also participate in activities which make them effective spokespeople for the best in British
society and education and once they have completed their studies, continue to support the furtherance of international co-operation in the spirit
of the Marshall Plan.
The programme is funded by HM Government through the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and is administered in Britain by the
Marshall Aid Commemoration Commission and in the United States by the British Embassy in Washington DC, and the Consulates-General in
Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York and San Francisco. HRH Prince of Wales is Honorary Patron of the Association of
Marshall Scholars.
In addition to funds from HMG the Commission has established partnership arrangements with many British Universities and also secured a
number of privately funded Scholarships. In total these arrangements enable the Commission to award some 7-10 additional Scholarships
each year.
This Business Plan should be read in conjunction with the Marshall Aid Commemoration Commission’s Corporate Plan 2016-2019.
MEMBERS OF THE MARSHALL AID COMMEMORATION COMMISSION (AS OF 1 APRIL 2016)
Mr Christopher Fisher (Chair)
Professor Richard Dendy
Ms Eliza Hermann
Dr Ruth Kosmin (Deputy Chair)
Ms Janet Legrand
Professor Simon Newman
THE MARSHALL AID COMMEMORATION COMMISSION’S PRIORITIES:
To strengthen the cultural, economic, trade, personal and historic ties between the US and the UK by using the Marshall Scholarships to:
1. Offer the most prestigious UK-wide Scholarship for the best US graduates
2. Attract the US graduates with the greatest potential as scholars, leaders, and contributors to strengthened UK / US ties – reflecting a
diverse US society
3. Ensure Scholars are placed in a variety of excellent universities and courses and have a UK experience that significantly enhances
their careers and lives
4. Help foster lifelong, mutually beneficial links between Scholars and the UK
5. Run a sustainably funded Scholarship programme
6. Remain well-governed and cost-effective, benefitting from substantial volunteer time in both the UK and US
1. Offer the most prestigious UK-wide Scholarship for the best US graduates
Actions
Start
Started
End
March
2017
1.2 Develop our communication activities to further strengthen the Marshall ‘brand’ and to continue to attract
future leaders. This includes maintaining and improving the website for www.marshallscholarship.org to help
better promote the Scholarship.
1.3 Maintain and enhance use of US media in collaboration with the Embassy and the Consulates
1.4 Develop a Social Media campaign in collaboration with the Embassy
Started
January
2017
Started
Started
1.5 Produce films that promote the Marshall Scholarships
April 2016
On-going
January
2017
January
2017
1.1 Ensure that the Scholarship programme remains fit-for-purpose and continues to attract and select excellent
Scholars.
2. Attract the US graduates with the greatest potential as scholars, leaders, and contributors to strengthened UK / US ties –
reflecting a diverse US society
Actions
2.1 Ensure that the published criteria for selection are applied consistently and fairly. Continue to develop a
process which ensures fairness and equality.
2.2 Work with British Consulates and Embassy and the AMS on outreach to US Universities and ethnic minority
groups such as the Historically Black Colleges and Universities and the Hispanic Association of Colleges &
Universities
2.3 Develop and Co-ordinate an alumni speakers’ programme which will allow alumni to speak to students at
US Universities about their research and their experiences in the UK.
Start
Started
Started
Started
End
November
2016
On-going
September
2016
2.4 Provide additional support to regional selection committees by providing online unconscious bias training,
and collation of committee best practices
2.5 Continue a review of the US based selection process in partnership with British diplomats and US
volunteers in the USA.
Started
Started
September
2016
December
2016
3. Ensure Scholars are placed in a variety of excellent universities and courses and have a UK experience that significantly
enhances their careers and lives
Actions
3.1 Ensure that each Scholar receives proper guidance and advice when selecting an institution. Support
second year choices with strong academic advising
3.2 Ensure stipends avoid the risk of hardship for Scholars
3.3 Promote the Marshall Plus programme which includes a portfolio of memberships associations that
Scholars can join whilst in the UK and also a series of lectures and visits.
3.5 Ensure MACC representatives speak at the National Association of Fellowship Advisors (NAFA) workshops
and Conferences.
3.6 Organise Study Tour of Marshall Partner Universities in the UK for NAFA members.
Start
Started
Started
End
March
2017
On-going
January
2017
July 2016
Started
June 2016
Start
April 2016
End
On-going
April 2016
January
2017
On-going
Started
Started
4. Help foster lifelong, mutually beneficial links between Scholars and the UK
Actions
4.1 Work with Embassy, Consulates and the AMS to maintain the vibrant network of Scholars acting as
‘ambassadors’ in the US. Develop better communication between Scholars and the British Government
4.2 Develop opportunities for Marshall Scholars to give back. For example Marshall Alumni Speakers’
Programme
4.3 Highlight successful Marshall Scholars to all stakeholders including the FCO. In particular Scholars in
influential positions and Scholars who donate large sums to the UK.
Started
5. Run a sustainably funded Scholarship programme
Actions
5.1 Maintain dialogue with Government emphasising the need for at least flat cash and demonstrate the issues
arising from a decreasing budget.
5.2 Work with the FCO to identify new partners from the private sector. Encourage the FCO to combine the
Chevening and Marshall Scholarships in the bid for funding.
5.3 Sustain and increase the number of Partnership institutions and funding at existing institutions. Work with
the partner institutions such as the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
and UK Universities to ensure continued support of these partnerships. Continue to visit the Marshall partner
universities to encourage funding. Attend NIH and EPA events where possible. Meet with NIH and EPA
representatives before the Ambassador’s Advisory Council.
Start
Started
Started
Started
End
October
2016
March
2017
On-going
6. Remain well-governed and cost-effective, benefitting from substantial volunteer time in both the UK and US
Actions
6.1 Continue to appoint Commissioners and Selection Committee members who are willing to give freely of
their time and skills in order to support and enhance the programme.
6.2 Continuously look for opportunities to further improve the cost-effectiveness of the Programme.
Start
Started
End
April 2016
Started
On-going
MACC EXPENDITURE
This section sets out the MACC’s planned expenditure in 2016/17, as agreed with the FCO:
£’000
Planned Expenditure
Grant in Aid
Taxpayers’ Equity: Opening Balance
Taxpayers’ Equity: Closing Balance
2015/16
(forecast outturn)
2,1561
2,000
464
308
These figures include 32 new Scholars starting in 2016/17.
The Taxpayers’ Equity is within the range determined by the MACC’s Reserves Policy.
The 2016/17 Grant in Aid will be drawn down in the following tranches:
1 April 2016
24 June 2016
23 September 2016
16 December 2016
13 March 2017
1
£400,000
£400,000
£700,000
£350,000
£110,0003
Up to £156,000 covered by drawing down from MACC reserves.
Up to £59,000 covered by drawing down from MACC reserves.
3 This figure will be adjusting according to the amount claimed by the British Embassy and seven Consulates-General.
2
2016/17
2,0592
2,000
308
249
Administration Costs (including VAT)
61%
1%
Direct Commission Costs
IT Costs
1%
90%
Direct Scholar Costs
8%
2%
27%
Partnership Contributions (related to
direct Scholar costs)
US Interview Costs
Indicative Budget Allocation by Item 2016/17
Stipends
Tuition Fees
Application Fees
Research Support Grant
Disability Grant
Study Travel Grant
Thesis Grant
Book Allowance
Scholars to/from USA
Scholar Visas +NHS Tariff
Orientation costs
Compassionate Fares
Freight
Daily Travel
Other Scholars costs (discretional)
Other Course costs (discretional)
Scholar Skills enhancement/Marshall Plus
US Interview Costs
US Committee Costs
784,725
703,037
1,000
12,000
5,000
13,250
9,500
13,365
34,250
22,402
25,000
900
17,250
24,840
3,500
2,000
5,000
30,000
25,000
Commission Entertaining
Commission Travel /Subsist
2,000
14,125
Commissioner training & development
0
AMS Development
0
Scholar trips
Miscellaneous
Admin Fee
Stationery
19,500
3,000
229,631
500
Printing
9,000
Photocopying
1,700
Postage/Tel/Fax
3,000
Internet charges
Events-Promoting Public Diplomacy/Marshall
Plus
Audit Fee
Bank Charges
Infrastructure development/implementation
100
17,000
4,500
550
23,000
2,059,625
Benefits received from Partnership Agreements
784,633
Open Data
As laid out in the Marshall Aid Commemoration Commission’s Publication Scheme4 the MACC has made the following data available:
Class of Information
Who we are and what we do
Marshall Aid Commemoration Act and Administrative Regulations
Biographies of all Commission Members and Secretariat Staff
Location and contact details
What we spend and how we spend it
Audited Annual Accounts
Transparency data: spend over £25,000
Corporate Plan and Business Plan
What our priorities are and how we are doing
Annual Report
Scholarship Competition Statistics (annual)
Historical US Institution data
How we make decisions
MACC Meeting Minutes
Scholarship Competition Criteria
Rules for Candidates
Our policies and procedures
Management Statement and Financial Memorandum
Anti-Fraud Policy
Code of Conduct for Marshall Commissioners
Gifts and Hospitality Policy
Travel Policy
Lists and Registers
Register of Interests
Risk Register
4
http://www.marshallscholarship.org/about/PubilcationFOI2009scheme.pdf
Type of Data
Location
Other key data
Other key data
Other key data
www.marshallscholarship.org
www.marshallscholarship.org
www.marshallscholarship.org
Input data
Input data
Impact/input data
www.marshallscholarship.org
www.marshallscholarship.org
www.marshallscholarship.org
Impact data
Impact data
Impact data
www.marshallscholarship.org
www.marshallscholarship.org
www.marshallscholarship.org
Other key data
Other key data
Other key data
Available upon request
www.marshallscholarship.org
www.marshallscholarship.org
Other key data
Other key data
Other key data
Other key data
Other key data
www.marshallscholarship.org
www.marshallscholarship.org
www.marshallscholarship.org
www.marshallscholarship.org
www.marshallscholarship.org
Other key data
Other key data
Available upon request
Available upon request
The Services we offer
Guidance for Scholarship Advisors and Recommenders
Guidance on studying in the UK
FAQ’s
Other key data
Other key data
Other key data
www.marshallscholarship.org
www.marshallscholarship.org
www.marshallscholarship.org