Greater transparency of university governance must be included in post-16 education bill, says UCU

UCU said a key section concerning governance for universities, that would increase democracy and transparency in decision-making, must not be diluted. The union added that a Scottish code of governance must be enshrined in legislation and not simply voluntary. The bill is due to be debated next week (Wednesday 27 March), with opposition parties likely to call for a delay to the second stage of the bill.

The union is also calling for the full implementation of a recent review of higher education governance, led by Professor Ferdinand von Prondzynski. More on that review can be found at our campaign page.

Members of UCU Scotland meet on Friday at their annual congress and are expected to back a series of motions that confirm the commitment to students and staff being properly involved in the proposed new governance code and the full implementation of the von Prondzynski review.

UCU Scotland president, Gordon Watson, said: 'We all need to be confident that those tasked with making key decisions in our universities understand higher education and can properly scrutinise proposals. Staff representation has been dangerously eroded at the top table, as have the roles of senates or academic boards. We now need legislation not voluntary codes to increase democracy and transparency in our academic institutions.

'We have to strengthen the academic and student input to governing bodies to protect the distinctive ethos of the university and its independent role. The big decision-making bodies must not just be there to rubberstamp senior managers' plans.

'Despite the von Prondzynski review of governance calling for greater involvement from students and staff, the new code risks being developed without their involvement. This lack of democracy mimics what is happening in some universities and highlights why we need real changes in governance.'

The Stage 1 Report on the Post-16 Education (Scotland) Bill is available from the Education and Culture Committee of the Scottish Parliament