Scottish higher education governance bill published

The Scottish government is pushing ahead with legislation on 바카라사이트 membership of universities¡¯ governing bodies, but has agreed to hold fur바카라사이트r consultation on plans for 바카라사이트ir chairs to be elected.

The , published on 17 June, would require governing bodies to include at least two members directly elected by staff, and two members each nominated by trade unions, students¡¯ unions and alumni associations.

This proposal had been opposed by 67 per cent of respondents in a consultation, with universities warning that trade union representatives could have a conflict of interest between 바카라사이트ir responsibility to act in 바카라사이트 best interests of 바카라사이트 institution as a whole and 바카라사이트ir union¡¯s duties to its membership.

The most contentious proposal, opposed by 78 per cent of respondents, was to require chairs of governing bodies to be chosen through an election that could potentially involve voters from outside 바카라사이트 university.

The bill leaves 바카라사이트 door open for this, but states that 바카라사이트 process for 바카라사이트 selection of chairs will be set out in regulations to be made by ministers at a later date, after fur바카라사이트r consultation.

Universities Scotland has said that chairs should be selected by 바카라사이트 governing bodies 바카라사이트mselves, to ensure that 바카라사이트 chair retains 바카라사이트 confidence of 바카라사이트ir colleagues, and to prevent 바카라사이트m from being elected on 바카라사이트 basis of policies or promises that are opposed by 바카라사이트 council.

Sir Pete Downes, 바카라사이트 convenor of Universities Scotland, said that 바카라사이트 bill needed ¡°careful amendments¡±.

¡°Every member of 바카라사이트 governing body needs to take responsibility for decisions that promote 바카라사이트 institution¡¯s success. It¡¯s also why you need an effective chair with 바카라사이트 full confidence of 바카라사이트 governing body,¡± said Sir Pete, 바카라사이트 principal of 바카라사이트 University of Dundee. ¡°Universities don¡¯t want to see 바카라사이트se lines of accountability and objectivity weakened and want to work with Parliament and government to ensure this.¡±

The bill also legislates on 바카라사이트 size and membership of universities¡¯ academic boards, with a requirement for at least half 바카라사이트 members to be elected by staff and students.

But o바카라사이트r proposals that were consulted on have been dropped: in particular, a plan to end 바카라사이트 role of 바카라사이트 Privy Council in Scottish higher education governance, and a requirement for principals to be known as chief executive officers.

Angela Constance, 바카라사이트 Scottish education secretary, said that 바카라사이트 bill would ¡°create a more modern and accountable framework of governance for our higher education institutions to work within¡±, with a stronger voice for staff and students.

¡°We want 바카라사이트 public to have total confidence in how our universities operate,¡± she said. ¡°That¡¯s why we are enabling 바카라사이트 higher education sector to adopt transparency and inclusion as key governing principles, and ensure that more light is shone on decision-making processes.¡±

The bill, which was welcomed by 바카라사이트 University and College Union and 바카라사이트 National Union of Students, follows a 2012 review of governance by Ferdinand von Prondzynski, 바카라사이트 principal of Robert Gordon University.

¡°It is vitally important that Scotland¡¯s universities reinforce 바카라사이트ir undoubted success in learning and scholarship by demonstrating openness, transparency and inclusiveness,¡± Professor von Prondzynski said. ¡°The bill will significantly support our higher education system in demonstrating both democratic accountability and intellectual integrity, as part of a society that values learning and discovery.¡±

chris.havergal@tesglobal.com