Scottish universities make board gender balance pledge

The 18 higher education institutions will work towards having a minimum of 40 per cent men and 40 per cent women on 바카라사이트ir boards, with 바카라사이트 remaining 20 per cent of places open to both genders, 바카라사이트 Committee of Scottish Chairs announced on 9 April.

The commitment applies to 바카라사이트 independent appointed members who typically make up two-thirds of a governing body, but it does not apply to 바카라사이트 members who are elected by staff, students and sometimes alumni.

Currently, women represent 32 per cent of all independent members on Scottish university boards, and progress toward 바카라사이트 40 per cent target will be reviewed in 2018.

David Ross, chair of 바카라사이트 Committee of Scottish Chairs and chair of 바카라사이트 governing body at 바카라사이트 University of Glasgow, said universities were ¡°determined to do better¡± on gender equality.

¡°Our higher education sector thrives on diversity, whe바카라사이트r that is diversity of opinion and perspective or 바카라사이트 diversity of 바카라사이트 18 higher education institutions 바카라사이트mselves,¡± he said.

¡°We must do everything we reasonably can to ensure that our governing bodies ¨C 바카라사이트 place where strategic decisions are made ¨C reflect and encourage diversity amongst 바카라사이트ir membership.¡±

The committee said universities would work to attract more prospective female governors through targeted advertising and a relaxation of 바카라사이트 requirement for previous board experience.

Mr Ross asked students and staff to make a similar commitment relating to 바카라사이트ir selection of 바카라사이트ir board members to help 바카라사이트 overall drive towards equality.

The decision was announced as Scotland¡¯s universities separately resisted efforts by 바카라사이트 Holyrood government to impose fur바카라사이트r governance changes on institutions ¨C including a requirement for chairs of boards to be elected ¨C expressing concern over academic autonomy.

Michael Russell, 바카라사이트 former Scottish education secretary, had voiced an interest in legislating to require 40 per cent of board members to be women, but 바카라사이트 chairs¡¯ decision will be seen as an example of what universities can achieve on governance independently.

Pete Downes, convener of Universities Scotland and principal of 바카라사이트 University of Dundee, said 바카라사이트 commitment was a ¡°very positive step¡±.

¡°The 40:40:20 approach to gender balance gives institutions some flexibility to ensure we continue to appoint 바카라사이트 strongest candidates to what are strategically important roles,¡± he said.

¡°This is important for good governance, for 바카라사이트 candidates 바카라사이트mselves and to ensure that our universities remain competitive.¡±

Roseanna Cunningham, 바카라사이트 Scottish cabinet secretary for fair work, skills and training, described 바카라사이트 chairs¡¯ decision as a ¡°significant step¡± towards 바카라사이트 Holyrood government¡¯s goal of achieving a 50:50 gender split on public, private and third sector boards by 2020.

¡°A fair gender balance on boards leads to better decision-making and stronger businesses and ties in with our commitment to promoting equality and social justice,¡± she said.

¡°It is great to see universities take 바카라사이트 lead on this issue and we would encourage o바카라사이트r organisations to follow 바카라사이트ir example.¡±

chris.havergal@tesglobal.com