MSPs must use Holyrood vote to give university staff a stronger voice

MSPs must use a golden opportunity to give university staff a greater say in how their institutions are run, when they take part in a key vote today (Wednesday) says the University and College Union (UCU).

UCU Scotland urged MSPs to pass amendments* to a key section of the Post-16 Bill legislation, relating to the governance of universities, which would mean staff get a greater role in top-level decision-making.

The bill includes elements that will help encourage students from the most marginalised backgrounds to gain from university education and ensure universities face proper scrutiny.

The union says a recent review of higher education governance by Professor Ferdinand von Prondzynski, that called for greater staff involvement at top level decision making, should be implemented in full.

More on that review can be found at our campaign page.

UCU Scotland president, Dave Anderson, said: 'Today, MSPs have a golden opportunity to create legislation that will give university staff a stronger voice in how their institutions are run and we urge them to take it.

'It is vital to have the expert staff voice on university 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.

'As the government has recognised, proposals to get students from the most marginalised backgrounds to consider university will only produce results if staff are fully involved in the process. Staff need to be on governing bodies to ensure this happens. '

*Amendments 5 and 100 tabled by Neil Findlay and Joan McAlpine respectively, along with further detail on the Bill, can be found at the Scottish Parliament