UCU Scotland urges Parliament to keep pressure on universities in governance row

Ahead of the Education and Culture Committee taking evidence on the review of higher education governance report at 10am today, UCU Scotland said politicians needed to ensure that the review's recommendations were implemented.

The chair of the review panel, Professor Ferdinand von Prondzynski, will give evidence to MSPs on the report, which calls for greater transparency in the management of Scottish universities.

The review was instigated by Michael Russell, cabinet secretary for education, in response to UCU's concerns over crises in university governance. The union said that unless the report's recommendations are implemented in full, the review will have failed.

The report recommended:

•Protecting academic freedom and institutional autonomy
•The appointment of two nominees of both students and staff unions to the governing body and committees
•Greater transparency in appointments and remuneration of senior management
•Election for chairs of governing bodies
•A broadening of the experience of governing body members and greater transparency in appointment procedures
•Evidence Base on higher education in Scotland is built up to inform further reform

UCU Scottish official, Mary Senior, said: "MSPs need to help us to ensure this report, that aims to increase transparency and accountability in our universities, is implemented by university courts across Scotland.

"Only if the report is implemented in full as, Mike Russell wishes, will we be able to make steps to improve how Scottish universities are run. It is right that there should be greater transparency and more scrutiny of senior management's remuneration and appointments. We are very pleased that the review recommends having union and student representatives on universities' boards."