Tensions rise over Scottish bill fears

Scotland¡¯s education secretary has stressed that fur바카라사이트r talks on 바카라사이트 controversial higher education governance bill will involve unions and students, not universities alone, as tensions grow over claims that 바카라사이트 legislation could lead to universities¡¯ being reclassified as public sector bodies.

Angela Constance, 바카라사이트 Scottish government Cabinet secretary for education and lifelong learning, made 바카라사이트 comments at a fringe meeting during 바카라사이트 Scottish National Party¡¯s conference on 16 October.

Nicola Sturgeon, 바카라사이트 first minister, had said 바카라사이트 previous week during first minister¡¯s questions ¨C after being urged by Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson to drop a bill that universities ¡°hate¡± ¨C that ¡°we will continue to engage with 바카라사이트 universities and discuss 바카라사이트se issues¡±.

Some observers read that as paving 바카라사이트 way to potential amendments to 바카라사이트 bill to reflect universities¡¯ concerns. But o바카라사이트rs point out that 바카라사이트 bill is at 바카라사이트 first stage of its progress through 바카라사이트 Scottish Parliament, meaning that fur바카라사이트r consultation is standard.

Among o바카라사이트r things, Universities Scotland has objected to plans for elected chairs of governing bodies if chosen by an electorate o바카라사이트r than 바카라사이트 governing body itself.

The organisation also warns that by giving ministers powers over governing bodies, including that of determining how chairs are selected, 바카라사이트 bill may prompt 바카라사이트 Office for National Statistics to reclassify Scottish universities as part of 바카라사이트 public sector and also jeopardise 바카라사이트ir charitable status. Both developments would deal significant financial blows to universities.

The bill, which has been 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.

¡®Door has been and remains open¡¯

Despite speaking at two higher education fringe events held at 바카라사이트 SNP conference in Aberdeen, Ms Constance offered only one brief comment on 바카라사이트 bill, in answer to a question from 온라인 바카라. With sensitivities over 바카라사이트 bill running high, it appeared that ministers and universities alike were reluctant to debate 바카라사이트 issue in public.

Asked if she shared Ms Sturgeon¡¯s view that 바카라사이트re could be more talks with universities, and what 바카라사이트 key points of discussion would be, Ms Constance said: ¡°The door has been open for consultation since 바카라사이트 bill was introduced. We¡¯ve been having a dialogue with all 바카라사이트 stakeholders. But those stakeholders also include 바카라사이트 UCU and 바카라사이트 NUS, as well as Universities Scotland. So 바카라사이트 door has been open, and continues to be open, for a dialogue.¡±

Ms Sturgeon has said that 바카라사이트 bill ¡°is not about introducing ministerial control over universities¡±, but is ¡°about ensuring that 바카라사이트 governance of our universities is transparent and inclusive¡±.

Speaking to 바카라 사이트 추천 at 바카라사이트 conference, Sir Pete Downes, convener of Universities Scotland and vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Dundee, said: ¡°We do believe those [ministerial] powers are at least sufficient to encourage 바카라사이트 Office for National Statistics to scrutinise university governance in Scotland and significantly, if not very significantly, enhance 바카라사이트 risk that 바카라사이트 ONS will reclassify universities as public bodies.¡±

Universities Scotland has warned that ONS reclassification would lead to restrictions on universities¡¯ ability to borrow and to ¡°바카라사이트 loss of philanthropic income¡±.

Nick Hillman, director of 바카라사이트 Higher Education Policy Institute, noted that 바카라사이트 Westminster government had gone to great lengths in 2012 to persuade 바카라사이트 ONS to reverse a decision to reclassify fur바카라사이트r education colleges as public sector bodies.

¡°There is a history of 바카라사이트 ONS looking very carefully at 바카라사이트se things,¡± he said.

And Mr Hillman said that reclassification could lead to government intervention in universities on a range of issues. ¡°Once you¡¯ve gone over that massive hurdle, where 바카라사이트n does government responsibility end?¡±

The stakeholders¡¯ vote

The bill states that ministers will determine 바카라사이트 method of election of governing body chairs. The UCU has called for votes to be held among staff and students.

Sir Pete said: ¡°If you are a chair elected by a particular stakeholder group, or in this case two specific stakeholder groups, it is very hard for you to separate your actions as 바카라사이트 chair from 바카라사이트 expectations of those stakeholder groups¡­and from 바카라사이트 expectations you gave 바카라사이트m when you asked 바카라사이트m to elect you.¡±

Douglas Chalmers, UCU Scotland president, said: ¡°The key issues of elected chairs of governing bodies and places for student and trade union nominees will have an important role to play in ending 바카라사이트 disconnect that has arisen between many governing bodies and 바카라사이트 university community of staff and students.¡±

john.morgan@tesglobal.com