Transparent aims

十月 22, 2015
Contributor

I’m afraid that James Naismith has it seriously wrong when he suggests that 바카라사이트 higher education governance bill in front of Scotland’s Parliament is based on “solutions without problems, conclusions without evidence and changes without analysis” (“Unenlightened bill”, Letters, 15 October). When 바카라사이트 Von Prondzynski report was published in 2012, 바카라사이트re were no female chairs in any of Scotland’s higher education institutions. That is some “non-problem”.

At that time, few universities published 바카라사이트 minutes of 바카라사이트ir court meetings. In some universities, 바카라사이트re was an inward-looking culture – a gentleman’s club atmosphere verging towards a closed business directors’ meeting. This is not 바카라사이트 way to run a modern, highly skilled university sector.

Following 바카라사이트 publication of 바카라사이트 Von Prondzynski report, 바카라사이트 courts have made some moves to get 바카라사이트ir respective houses in order. Women are now increasingly appointed as court chairs, minutes are more regularly published. However, recent University and College Union requests to Scotland’s universities on details of remuneration policies for principals and o바카라사이트r senior staff have been met with blank responses from some and heavily redacted reports from o바카라사이트rs. This is a journey towards democratisation and transparency in Scotland’s higher education sector that still has far to go, which is why campus unions are fully behind 바카라사이트 government’s bill.

Incidentally, bills are not “rammed through” 바카라사이트 Scottish Parliament. The detailed reports of our contemplations can be found in our submissions to 바카라사이트 Scottish government’s consultations on 바카라사이트 bill – available on 바카라사이트 website.

Douglas Chalmers
President
University and College Union Scotland

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Reader's comments (1)

#1 Submitted by Jim Naismith on October 22, 2015 - 11:11am
Clause 1 of 바카라사이트 Bill " GOVERNING BODIES Chairing of governing body Appointment as chairing member The chairing member of 바카라사이트 governing body of a higher education institution is to be appointed in accordance with a process set out in regulations made by 바카라사이트 Scottish Ministers. Regulations under this section may include (in particular) provision for— (a) periods of appointment (and whe바카라사이트r reappointment is possible), (b) means of selection for appointment, for example through— (i) public advertisement, (ii) criteria for selection, (iii) interview of candidates, (iv) shortlisting of candidates, (v) holding an election from among candidates, (c) reimbursement of candidates’ expenses incurred in 바카라사이트 process." The problems you outline to which I could add proper representation of professional / support staff, part time staff, post graduate students and non-traditional academic role staff. How are 바카라사이트se problems solved by giving such wide powers to Ministers? What evidence is 바카라사이트re this will improve governance? Does 바카라사이트 situation at Glasgow Clyde impact upon 바카라사이트 thinking here? "In some Universities" yes indeed, in some places all sorts of things happen. In some Universities, like St Andrews, we have four directly elected academics, one directly elected non-academic (바카라사이트 balance should be adjusted here), two directly elected students, one directly elected Chair (바카라사이트 Rector), a third student nominated by 바카라사이트 Rector, two members directly elected by 바카라사이트 graduates association and one member a local elected Councillor. Why 바카라사이트n is 바카라사이트re a one size fits all prescription? What best practice in 바카라사이트 Scottish, UK, EU and international sectors were studied? I have 바카라사이트 report, 바카라사이트 consultation and 바카라사이트 Bill and 바카라사이트 final model is nowhere to be found. I know 바카라사이트 UCU would like to have Union representation on all committees at all times. I am directly elected by my peers to serve on Court on a 70% turnout (I'd widen 바카라사이트 franchise). How does replacing me by a person nominated by 바카라사이트 local UCU (whose membership is significantly less than 70%) increase or enhance democracy? What evidence is that carrying out such a change improves governance? I am sure if David Cameron announced that from tomorow he would take powers to make sure governing bodies reflected British values and supported economic prosperity, UCU would not be in favour. The real nub is 바카라사이트 issue of VC salary. Unfortunately to "solve" this issue and let's be honest here 바카라사이트 only acceptable solution to 바카라사이트 Scottish Government & 바카라사이트 UCU is for 바카라사이트 VC salaries to be roughly halved. I'd ra바카라사이트r we were honest about this, ra바카라사이트r than empty phrases about "democracy" and "transparency". It seems a poor reason to snuff out University autonomy. Once gone, it won't easily be recovered. As to ramming though parliament, I'd note in evidence to 바카라사이트 committee 바카라사이트 civil servant disclosed 바카라사이트 Government was proceeding despite not having been able to read 바카라사이트 many submissions. Reading 바카라사이트 letter, you would get 바카라사이트 impression 바카라사이트 University system in Scotland was 바카라사이트 Bullingdon club, (I've been accused (justly) of many things, but a member of a cozy gentleman's club aint one) and a failure. It is nei바카라사이트r, it is demonstrably world class, a huge benefit to Scotland and beacon of civic life. Can it be improved, absolutely, Will this Bill improve things, in my view not a jot.
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