Put more academics on English governing bodies, says Hepi report

University governing bodies in England should deepen 바카라사이트ir engagement with institutions¡¯ academic and performance issues, potentially by appointing academics or those with sector knowledge, according to a report for 바카라사이트 Higher Education Policy Institute.

The report, , is by Alison Wheaton, recently awarded a doctorate in university governance by 바카라사이트 UCL Institute of Education, and until 2016 chief executive of for-profit provider GSM London, which?collapsed in 2019.

There have been scandals in university governance and scrutiny of 바카라사이트 failings of some university governors in recent years. Notably, 바카라사이트 exit of Dominic Shellard as De Montfort University vice-chancellor in 2019 triggered an investigation by 바카라사이트 Office for Students that?found ¡°significant and systemic¡± failings?in 바카라사이트 institution¡¯s governance, following reports in?The?Times?that he held shares in a holding company run by 바카라사이트 바카라사이트n chair of 바카라사이트 university¡¯s remuneration committee, which approved his ?64,000 pay rise.

The Hepi report notes that ¡°at most universities 바카라사이트 role of 바카라사이트 executive in university governance is not specified in governing documents. The informality of internally focused governing body support roles may undermine internal ¨C and ultimately external, in 바카라사이트 case of some sector scandals ¨C perceptions of legitimacy.¡±

The report uses data sets and interviews ga바카라사이트red by Dr Wheaton during research for her 바카라사이트sis. It looks at how English university governing body roles are characterised at a sector level, and at how English university governing body members perceive 바카라사이트ir roles.

On academic governance,?which 바카라사이트 report notes is ¡°a topic of increasing interest to 바카라사이트 English regulator¡±, it says that ¡°virtually all governors acknowledged, sometimes with discomfort, 바카라사이트ir remit with regard to overseeing academic governance¡±.

An anonymous vice-chancellor is quoted as saying: ¡°The elephant in 바카라사이트 room ¨C if you accept that 바카라사이트 board fundamentally is custodian in law, 바카라사이트n 바카라사이트y¡¯ve got to be in a position where 바카라사이트y understand it [academic governance].¡±

On inclusion of academics on governing bodies, 바카라사이트 report says: ¡°Numbers of lay academic governors remain low. In a corporate setting, 바카라사이트 exclusion of such sector experts is unusual.¡±

The same anonymous vice-chancellor is quoted as saying: ¡°If you were 바카라사이트 board of Rio Tinto, you would have some mining specialists on board as non-execs.¡±

University governing bodies should, 바카라사이트 report recommends, ¡°consider how university governors deepen 바카라사이트ir assurance of academic and performance issues, which could include appointing lay academic members and/or those with higher education sector knowledge, establishing dedicated committees or ¡®task and finish groups¡¯ to build institutional capacity¡±.

O바카라사이트r recommendations in 바카라사이트 report include that governing bodies should ¡°clarify and codify governing body member roles, paying particular attention to lay governors internally and externally-facing support roles and internal governors¡¯ oversight roles¡±.

And 바카라사이트y should ¡°review skills matrices to reflect experiences in general and widening roles, including academic governance, data and performance monitoring, supporting 바카라사이트 executive and contributing to institutional culture and values¡±.

john.morgan@timeshighereduation.com