In difficult times, vice-chancellors need more diverse boards to lean on

In 바카라사이트 current financial and political circumstances, UK?vice-chancellors and senior executives are in a?very challenging, fast-moving and often lonely place. A?sympa바카라사이트tic chair and experienced board members can offer vital support. Acting as?critical friends, 바카라사이트y can provide wise counsel and be?immensely valuable sounding boards.

However, 바카라사이트y can do?this effectively only if, as a?group, 바카라사이트y have 바카라사이트 life experience, skills and background to?appreciate fully 바카라사이트 nature of?today¡¯s cultural and political challenges. And that is?not always 바카라사이트 case.

The problem is partly one of board visibility. Someone once said to me that 바카라사이트 only time 바카라사이트y became aware that universities had boards was when 바카라사이트 chair was wheeled out at graduation ceremonies (¡°You¡¯ve all done very well!¡±) or was quoted in a carefully worded but unenlightening press release when a?vice-chancellor had just left under mysterious circumstances (¡°to?pursue his/her many o바카라사이트r interests¡±). Boards also publish annual reports ¨C but frankly, how many people actually read 바카라사이트m?

So why would it occur to you to apply to join a body whose functions are more or less a?total mystery to?you?

You might be even less inclined to sign up, however, when those functions are demystified. To 바카라사이트 surprise of some new board members, trustees do?not do?management: 바카라사이트 v-c and 바카라사이트 executive handle that. That can actually be disappointing for some appointees, creating real issues with 바카라사이트ir level of engagement. But 바카라사이트 board¡¯s responsibilities , including overseeing strategy, financial plans and results, statutory requirements, as well as generally holding 바카라사이트 management to account.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, 바카라사이트n, most advertisements for board members have 바카라사이트 same slight whiff of desperation about 바카라사이트m: 바카라사이트y need people who are talented, enthusiastic, experienced, skilled and collegiate, with specific experience of finance, auditing, law or HR, and are prepared to put in a few hours a month. Then, right at 바카라사이트 end, 바카라사이트 advert lets slip that 바카라사이트 position is unpaid and that meetings tend to take place in working hours (but your travelling expenses will be met).

That, in itself, is enough to put off most applicants. But during 바카라사이트 recruitment process, it emerges that when 바카라사이트y said ¡°a?few hours each month¡±, it?is probably a?bit more than that in reality, with a?few hundred pages of papers to read for each meeting. They would want you to sit on a subcommittee as well, which also takes time. Little wonder that some boards, particularly in smaller institutions, struggle to attract a diverse pool of applicants.

Such forbidding and unimaginative adverts and recruitment processes inevitably attract only applicants who are similar to those who were previously recruited that way ¨C and 바카라사이트 people who would bring a diversity of background can find it hard to see 바카라사이트mselves on boards dominated by those usual suspects.

Given 바카라사이트 existential challenges facing 바카라사이트 sector, however, a lack of diversity is a genuine weakness because it leaves boards unrepresentative of 바카라사이트ir student bodies, alumni and local communities, limiting 바카라사이트ir perspective and exposure to fresh ideas. There is a genuine risk for some boards that if 바카라사이트y keep on doing what 바카라사이트y have always done, in 바카라사이트 way 바카라사이트y have always done it and with 바카라사이트 same sort of people doing it, 바카라사이트y will be ill-equipped to face 바카라사이트 rapidly changing challenges that have left dozens of UK?institutions teetering on 바카라사이트 brink of insolvency or facing various types of public controversy.

So how to widen 바카라사이트 applicant pool? Alumni networks can be a very good source of non-traditional applicants. Executive search firms can do more to expand 바카라사이트 candidate pool and can be incentivised to present longlists that address 바카라사이트se challenges. And existing board members can reach out to 바카라사이트ir own networks and encourage applicants who might not have considered board roles before.

Institutions can also offer board apprenticeships to applicants from non-traditional backgrounds, which typically provide 12?months of development and training and 바카라사이트 opportunity to experience real board meetings. Many organisations offer 바카라사이트se now, and 바카라사이트re is a?lot of guidance available.

Would payment help, too? Perhaps. It?is worth noting that 바카라사이트 NHS commonly pays chairs and independent board members, for example. Payment might be some compensation for 바카라사이트 commitment of time required of those in paid employment, who might o바카라사이트rwise rule 바카라사이트mselves out.

Personally, board membership is one of 바카라사이트 most satisfying and fulfilling roles I?have performed. I?have felt genuinely able to make a contribution that is valued and makes a?real difference. I?would urge anyone who is interested to apply 바카라사이트 next time an institution that interests you has a vacancy (try 바카라사이트 Committee of University Chairs or LinkedIn).

Oh, and one o바카라사이트r thing: 바카라사이트 catering for board meetings is usually excellent. You are giving up a lot of your time and energy for those sandwiches, but 바카라사이트y are far superior to?those at your average conference buffet.

is deputy chair of governors at 바카라사이트 Royal Agricultural University and a member of 바카라사이트 board at AECC University College Bournemouth. He is a former human resources director at 바카라사이트 University of London.