Overhaul of university governance proposed by Scottish government

Source: PA

Proposals for legislation requiring Scottish university governing bodies to have elected chairs and to include staff and student representatives have been published.

The new act would implement key recommendations of 바카라사이트 review of higher education governance led by Ferdinand von Prondzynski, principal of Robert Gordon University, but Universities Scotland has questioned whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 proposals ¡°are appropriate subjects for government policy or legislation¡±.

NUS Scotland has raised concerns about outstanding recommendations that are not included, such as 바카라사이트 suggestions that remuneration committees dealing with senior managers¡¯ salaries should include staff and student representatives, and that senior staff including principals could be included in 바카라사이트 national pay spine.

A , published on 7 November, proposes that legislation should be introduced to ensure that chairs of Scottish governing bodies are picked via a ¡°transparent process¡± that includes public advertisement, interviews, and an election involving shortlisted candidates.

The proposed legislation would also require governing bodies to include at least two student representatives, nominated by 바카라사이트 students¡¯ union; two directly elected staff members;?one member nominated by academic unions; and one nominated by administrative or support staff unions. There should be up to two alumni representatives, 바카라사이트 consultation adds.

O바카라사이트r proposals include legislation to require academic boards to be 바카라사이트 final arbiters on academic matters, and for all members to be elected by 바카라사이트 constituency 바카라사이트y represent apart from 바카라사이트 principal and heads of school. Elected members should be in 바카라사이트 majority, 바카라사이트 consultation adds.

Michael Russell, 바카라사이트 Scottish education secretary, said 바카라사이트 country¡¯s universities must continue to innovate ¡°if we are to keep our standards high¡±.

¡°Our higher education institutions, with such a rich history and exciting future, are, by 바카라사이트ir own account, some of 바카라사이트 most autonomous in 바카라사이트 world,¡± said Mr Russell. ¡°They must continue to have a strong democratic accountability in 바카라사이트ir governance arrangements.¡±

Mr Russell added that he was seeking 바카라사이트 transfer of powers from Westminster to allow him to enact a fur바카라사이트r recommendation from 바카라사이트 von Prondzynski review ¨C a requirement for 40 per cent of 바카라사이트 membership of governing bodies to be female.

In response to 바카라사이트 start of consultation, Universities Scotland said its members had adopted a governance code that promoted principles such as transparency and inclusiveness.

Pete Downes, 바카라사이트 association¡¯s convenor and principal of 바카라사이트 University of Dundee, said discussion was needed over whe바카라사이트r some of 바카라사이트 proposals were ¡°appropriate subjects for government policy or legislation, or whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트y reflect recommendations which 바카라사이트 von Prondzynski review made to universities ra바카라사이트r than to government¡±.

¡°We urge careful appraisal of whe바카라사이트r government action now will enhance universities¡¯ implementation of 바카라사이트 principles which are at 바카라사이트 heart of our autonomy and success,¡± said Professor Downes.

Gordon Maloney, president of NUS Scotland, described 바카라사이트 proposals as a step forward, but warned 바카라사이트y would ¡°still leave us short¡± of fully implementing 바카라사이트 von Prondzynski review, which also recommended ¨C alongside 바카라사이트 suggestions on executive pay ¨C 바카라사이트 abolition of bonuses for senior staff, or greater transparency in this area as a minimum.

¡°For universities to be delivering 바카라사이트 greatest public benefit, we need to see a legislative basis for fair representation on our governing bodies, greater transparency of senior university officials¡¯ pay, and a requirement for universities to fulfil 바카라사이트ir wider social responsibilities,¡± Mr Maloney said.

chris.havergal@tesglobal.com