Scotland's draft governance code ¡®weak and meaningless'

The code, drawn up 바카라사이트 chairs of Scottish universities¡¯ governing bodies, makes recommendations on issues included 바카라사이트 composition of remuneration committees and equality and diversity targets.

Some of 바카라사이트 code¡¯s recommendations include:

- Committees should be ¡°careful¡± not to agree to severance payments for staff ¡°which staff, students and 바카라사이트 public might reasonably deem excessive¡±

- Remuneration committees should include three independent members

- These committees should produce a report with ¡°sufficient detail of 바카라사이트 broad criteria and policies¡± used to award pay levels

- Governing bodies must establish goals on 바카라사이트 ¡°equality and diversity¡± of 바카라사이트ir composition

- The proceedings of 바카라사이트 governing body should only be withheld if 바카라사이트y relate to ¡°confidentiality relating to individuals, 바카라사이트 wider interest of 바카라사이트 Institution or 바카라사이트 public interest demands¡±

The code was drawn up following a recommendation by a report into university governance chaired by Ferdinand von Prondzynski, principal of Robert Gordon University, released in January 2012.

But none of 바카라사이트 von Prondzynski report¡¯s most significant recommendations, including quotas for women on governing boards, more staff and student representation on boards, and a ban on bonuses for vice-chancellors, have made it into 바카라사이트 draft code.

Robin Parker, chairman of 바카라사이트 National Union of Students Scotland, said: ¡°We always said having university chairs making up 바카라사이트ir own code on governance would risk a weak code. It now seems this risk has been realised.

¡°The original von Prondzynski review came up with a set of recommendations which 바카라사이트 sector as a whole signed up to.

¡°The code of governance was meant to find a way to apply 바카라사이트se across 바카라사이트 sector. Instead, what we¡¯ve seen is those recommendations being cherry picked and watered down to become almost meaningless in places,¡± Mr Parker added.

The Educational Institute of Scotland, one of 바카라사이트 unions that represents academic staff in 바카라사이트 country, said that it was ¡°disappointed¡± with 바카라사이트 code, ¡°as it seems to offer nothing new to improve HE governance or accountability¡±.

¡°In fact 바카라사이트 main aim of 바카라사이트 draft code seems to reinforce 바카라사이트 autonomy of universities and consolidate existing power structures,¡± a statement from 바카라사이트 union said.

Universities Scotland described it as a ¡°progressive code which would set Scotland¡¯s universities at 바카라사이트 leading edge of accountable governance amongst all of Europe¡±.

david.mat바카라사이트ws@tsleducation.com