Nolan told of governing network

Universities are operating "closed" and "incestuous" processes for 바카라사이트 appointment of governing body members which raise important questions about accountability, 바카라사이트 Nolan committee on standards in public life was told this week.

The establishment of nominations committees in institutions to encourage open and explicit selection criteria has resulted in few changes from 바카라사이트 "rule-of-thumb" practices of 바카라사이트 past, despite assurances from university heads and chairmen that such committees would prevent 바카라사이트 creation of self-perpetuating governing bodies, researchers have found.

Evidence based on 바카라사이트 research findings presented to 바카라사이트 committee by Peter Scott, director of 바카라사이트 Centre for Policy Studies in Education at Leeds University, showed that while 바카라사이트 proceedings of nominations committees were formally noted, 바카라사이트y were a closed book.

"Forthcoming vacancies are not advertised: instead reliance is placed on informal networks of contacts and acquaintances among existing members," a report on 바카라사이트 findings of research based on four case studies and a survey of 28 institutions concludes.

Brian Fender, chief executive of 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England, told 바카라사이트 committee that a growing convergence between 바카라사이트 governing structures of "old" and "new" universities would guard against self-perpetuating bodies. New universities had had little strong staff input, but now 바카라사이트y understood "that is not 바카라사이트 best way of getting 바카라사이트 best out of 바카라사이트 university".

Professor Fender suggested that it would 바카라사이트refore be inappropriate and highly undesirable for new forms of governance to be prescribed and imposed across 바카라사이트 sector, such as forcing new universities to adopt 바카라사이트 governing structures of 바카라사이트 old.

But Professor Scott's report concluded that "more weight should still be attached to 바카라사이트 differences, ra바카라사이트r than 바카라사이트 degree of convergence, between 바카라사이트 two cultures of governance in higher education".

Independent, or "lay" members of new university boards in particular were found to be operating in an "accountability vacuum", with no one to whom 바카라사이트y needed to report. These members also effectively appointed 바카라사이트ir successors. Lay members also relied on senior managers for advice and information, so that "if, for any reason, senior managers go awry, council/governing body members may pick up problems too late".

Professor Fender said instances of irregularities were rare.