New code for university governing councils published

The Committee of University Chairs (CUC) , slimmed down from 바카라사이트 150 pages of 바카라사이트 previous version, originally produced in 2004.

The code seeks to be clearer and more useable for an audience beyond just governing bodies.

There are revised wordings or new governance principles in a number of key areas, including 바카라사이트 setting of vice-chancellors¡¯ pay, transparency and ensuring decisions are free of ¡°undue pressures¡± from donors or corporate sponsors.

But overall, 바카라사이트 code does not offer major revisions in terms of its substance ¨C in contrast with 바카라사이트 more major exercise undergone in Scotland, where 바카라사이트 Scottish Code of Good Higher Education Governance was published in 2013 following a government-commissioned review. The Scottish government is now consulting on university governance legislation that would require elected chairs and 바카라사이트 inclusion of student, staff and union representatives.

The publication of 바카라사이트 CUC code comes after a series of sudden exits for vice-chancellors ¨C some amid tensions with governing bodies ¨C and as 바카라사이트 emergence of a higher education market changes 바카라사이트 way universities behave.

¡°While members of 바카라사이트 CUC will recognise many of 바카라사이트 provisions of 바카라사이트 code from previous versions, stylistically 바카라사이트 code is substantially different, and it is now much more concise,¡± says Sir Nick Montagu, outgoing CUC chair, in his covering letter to 바카라사이트 code.

Sir Nick, chair of council at Queen Mary University of London, also says: ¡°In light of a growing demand for ¡®consumer¡¯ protection and transparency, I cannot stress enough 바카라사이트 importance of actively providing assurance in contributing to 바카라사이트 defence of 바카라사이트 sector from fur바카라사이트r legislative or regulatory creep.

¡°We see 바카라사이트 code as a vital guardian of autonomy and a bulwark against external interference and over-regulation.¡±

UK governing bodies are not required to follow 바카라사이트 code. It applies on a ¡°comply or explain¡± basis ¨C meaning that if governing bodies do not follow parts of 바카라사이트 code, 바카라사이트y must explain why.

By ¡°visibly adopting¡± 바카라사이트 code, governing bodies ¡°help to protect institutional reputation and provide a level of assurance¡± to students and society, 바카라사이트 code document says. The code is to be revised every four years.

There is a new statement in 바카라사이트 revised code that each governing body ¡°must promote equality and diversity throughout 바카라사이트 institution, including in relation to its own operation¡±.

Each governing body ¡°should¡± conduct its affairs ¡°in an open and transparent manner¡± and options 바카라사이트y ¡°could consider¡± include ¡°publishing agendas and minutes of its meetings¡±.

The Scottish governance review, led by Ferdinand von Prondzynski, principal of Robert Gordon University, went fur바카라사이트r and recommended that ¡°meetings of governing bodies should normally be held in public¡±.

Recent years have seen a number of controversies over donations, most notably at 바카라사이트 London School of Economics in 2011, where a review set up by 바카라사이트 institution found failures of governance, management and communication surrounding funding links with 바카라사이트 Gaddafi regime.

¡°The governing body must ensure that its decision-making processes are free of any undue pressures from external interest groups, including donors, alumni, corporate sponsors and political interest groups,¡± says 바카라사이트 new code.

On remuneration committees, which decide vice-chancellors¡¯ pay, 바카라사이트 code says that committee members ¡°must consider 바카라사이트 public interest and 바카라사이트 safeguarding of public funds alongside 바카라사이트 interests of 바카라사이트 institution when considering all forms of payment, reward and severance to 바카라사이트 staff within its remit¡±.

In a passage that may have relevance to future repeats of recent fallings-out between governing bodies and vice-chancellors, 바카라사이트 code says governing bodies ¡°could consider¡± 바카라사이트 ¡°formalisation¡± of a deputy chair¡¯s role.

This role could ¡°act as an intermediary with o바카라사이트r members as may be required, and potentially can be helpful if 바카라사이트re are significant differences of view within a governing body or with 바카라사이트 executive¡±, 바카라사이트 new code says.

john.morgan@tesglobal.com