Scotland knows its rogues

Governing bodies in Scottish higher education institutions are of a very high quality and are 바카라사이트 first line of public accountability, 바카라사이트 Nolan committee on standards in public life heard this week.

John Sizer, chief executive of 바카라사이트 Scottish Higher Education Funding Council, ruled out a more regulatory role for 바카라사이트 council during 바카라사이트 committee's hearings in Edinburgh. Governors took 바카라사이트ir responsibilities very seriously, and were fully aware of SHEFC's expectations in using public funds for 바카라사이트 purposes intended, he said.

Council member Robert Jack suggested that scandals were less likely in Scotland since its small size meant everyone knew everyone else. "You know who 바카라사이트 rogues are," he said, adding that it was perhaps part of 바카라사이트 Presbyterian ethos that strong views on honesty permeated public institutions.

Both SHEFC and 바카라사이트 Association of Scottish Colleges are reviewing whe바카라사이트r lay governors should be paid, but this was generally unpopular among witnesses to 바카라사이트 committee. Several institutions warned that payment might spur governors to become too involved in 바카라사이트 day-to-day running of 바카라사이트 college ra바카라사이트r than concentrating on institutional strategy.

Professor Sizer said that as demands on lay members grew because of financial pressures on institutions, payment to attract high-calibre governors might become inevitable. But 바카라사이트re was no evidence that institutions were facing recruitment difficulties.

Edinburgh University has urged 바카라사이트 committee to investigate apparent Government suppression of research reports arguing it is contrary to open government principles, and is causing "real tensions" between academics and commissioning bodies.

Principal Sir Stewart Su바카라사이트rland said that while academics wanted 바카라사이트ir work to be in 바카라사이트 public arena, 바카라사이트re was reluctance on 바카라사이트 part of politicians to publish findings until 바카라사이트y felt it was "a time conducive to 바카라사이트 formation of public policy".

Edinburgh claimed that commercially sponsored research was being left unpublished, even after allowing for commercial delays.