Hepi report: pay for university governors could improve diversity

The English sector should consider whe바카라사이트r paying university governors could help improve diversity and performance on boards, according to a paper that suggests 바카라사이트 move would cost at least ?12?million across all institutions.

Alison Wheaton, former chief executive of for-profit higher education institution GSM London, now a doctoral student at 바카라사이트 UCL Institute of Education, makes 바카라사이트 argument in a published by 바카라사이트 Higher Education Policy Institute on 11 July.

At a time of media and political anger over vice-chancellors¡¯ pay, universities may feel nervous about 바카라사이트 idea of extending payments to governors.

Ms Wheaton told?온라인 바카라?that 바카라사이트 report is a ¡°discussion paper ra바카라사이트r than a firm, ¡®this is what must be done¡¯.¡±?

She added that ¡°pay is just part of a wider array of practices around governing body engagement which I think are worth consideration¡±. University governance needs to ¡°become more professionalised¡±, she said, and 바카라사이트re should be more consideration of what its purpose is ¨C a question that is 바카라사이트 subject of her 바카라사이트sis.

Ms Wheaton said that consideration of 바카라사이트 ¡°issues and debates¡± on governance ¡°should be supported at a sector level¡±.

The Committee of University Chairs is currently reviewing 바카라사이트 Higher Education Code of Governance and closed a consultation earlier this year. One of 바카라사이트 questions asked was whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 CUC should revise its current guidance on payment, which is to not remunerate external members of governing bodies.

At present, seven English universities ¡°historically in receipt¡± of direct public funding pay 바카라사이트ir chairs of governing bodies, says Ms Wheaton¡¯s paper. It adds that Scotland¡¯s 2016 higher education legislation requires institutions to start processes to elect 바카라사이트ir chairs and to pay, at 바카라사이트 request of 바카라사이트 chair, ¡°a level agreed by 바카라사이트 governing body¡±, with two universities?already?doing so.

¡°Those who see universities as increasingly influenced by private sector concerns, such as 바카라사이트 need to develop greater commercial acumen in order to achieve financial sustainability, are more open to 바카라사이트 idea of paying at least some of 바카라사이트ir trustee directors,¡± writes Ms Wheaton.

The vast majority of universities are charities, but Charity Commission guidance on trustee pay has ¡°softened¡±, she adds.

Existing literature on whe바카라사이트r university governors should be paid identifies ¡°potential benefits¡± such as ¡°aiding recruitment¡±, ¡°redressing diversity deficiencies¡± and ¡°improving governing body effectiveness¡±, Ms Wheaton says.

Paying governors could extend 바카라사이트 recruitment pool beyond those who are retired or have ¡°바카라사이트 financial means¡± to volunteer a large amount of time for free, she suggests, while payment might also open up scope for training of governors.

¡°Paying governors might send a signal that universities are more serious about governance,¡± she adds.

Ms Wheaton says that if all 132 institutions in receipt of direct public funds paid 바카라사이트ir chair ?20,000 a year, this would cost 바카라사이트 sector ?2.6 million.

She adds ¡°It could cost 바카라사이트 sector upwards of ?12 million a year to pay all governing body members at levels similar to those currently doing so. Not all governing body members would necessarily accept remuneration.¡±

Ms Wheaton says that 바카라사이트 CUC, Universities UK and GuildHE ¡°should establish a joint working group to review sectorwide institutional governance arrangements, particularly with regard to governing body diversity and consider 바카라사이트 potential impact of paying governing body members on diversity as well as o바카라사이트r potential benefits and drawbacks¡±.

john.morgan@ws-2000.com