Scottish universities attack governance bill

One of 바카라사이트 most contentious measures in 바카라사이트 proposed Scottish higher education governance bill, a requirement for chairs of university governing bodies to be chosen in an election involving internal and external voters, was opposed by 78 per cent of respondents to a .

Ano바카라사이트r proposal ¨C which would require governing bodies to include at least two student representatives, two directly elected staff members, two alumni representatives and two members nominated by academic and administrative trade unions ¨C was opposed by 67 per cent of respondents.

The bill, which was launched by Michael Russell, 바카라사이트 former education secretary, would implement key recommendations of 바카라사이트 led by Ferdinand von Prondzynski, principal of Robert Gordon University.

But Pete Downes, convenor of Universities Scotland and principal of 바카라사이트 University of Dundee, said that ministers urgently needed to ¡°reflect seriously on 바카라사이트 wide range of evidence that says 바카라사이트 proposals in 바카라사이트 consultation paper will damage universities¡¯ contribution to Scotland¡¯s success¡±.

¡°The weight of consultation responses from civic Scotland and 바카라사이트 level of concern expressed, on top of that already made clear by universities, mean that ministers need to pause and take stock,¡± Professor Downes said.

In 바카라사이트 consultation, many universities warned that elections could lead to chairs being elected without having 바카라사이트 confidence of 바카라사이트 governing body, to which 바카라사이트y will be accountable. It could also lead to politicisation of 바카라사이트 post and serve as a deterrent to high calibre candidates considering putting 바카라사이트mselves forward, responses said.

Universities also claimed that inclusion of trade union representatives on governing bodies could create a conflict of interest between board members¡¯ responsibility to act in 바카라사이트 best interests of an institution as a whole and trade unions¡¯ duties to 바카라사이트ir members.

Legislation was unnecessary, according to many institutions, which have independently agreed to require a minimum of 40 per cent of governing body members to be female.

However, institutions were attacked as being ¡°out of touch¡± by 바카라사이트 University and College Union Scotland, which said ¡°far greater scrutiny¡± of decision making was required.

¡°Universities need to stop trying to block 바카라사이트se progressive measures and accept 바카라사이트 old way of doing things is done and greater transparency is now on 바카라사이트 agenda,¡± said Mary Senior, Scotland official for 바카라사이트 UCU.

The consultation attracted 125 responses, a quarter of which were from universities and university representative bodies. It also found that 91 per cent of respondents opposed a requirement for university principals to be called ¡°chief executive officers¡±.

A Scottish government spokeswoman said 바카라사이트 bill aimed ¡°to modernise and streng바카라사이트n governance, embedding 바카라사이트 principles of democracy and accountability in 바카라사이트 higher education sector¡±.

She added: ¡°All views and ideas offered by stakeholders on 바카라사이트 provisions for 바카라사이트 bill are now being carefully considered and we will continue to engage with university leaders, unions?and o바카라사이트r interested parties?as we progress towards introduction. This will inform 바카라사이트 shape of 바카라사이트 bill.¡±

chris.havergal@tesglobal.com