- Conference
- 2015 Higher Education Service Group Conference
- Date
- 27 October 2014
- Decision
- Carried
Conference notes the increasing concentration of power in the hands of a few appointed executives on bodies such as pre 92 University Court (e.g. Oxford, Cambridge, Kings etc.) and Post 92 Board of Governors (e.g. Greenwich, Hertfordshire, Sunderland etc.).
The main focus of these bodies is on commercial interests (potentially at the expense of educational values), academic freedom and institutional autonomy.
Conference believes governing boards do not reflect the constituency they serve especially in terms of race. A survey of 188 Higher Education Institutes (HEIs) by Carter et al found only 16% of institutions had Black representation on their governing bodies. Crucially, institutions with higher proportions of Black staff are also more likely to have higher percentages of Black staff on their governing bodies. Diverse governing bodies are more likely to appoint a diverse workforce and operate an equal opportunity recruitment process that does not disproportionately disadvantage Black workers.
We already know that according to the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) that race inequality exists throughout the Higher Education Cycle. In 2012 – 13, only 38 out of 129 Higher Education Institutions monitored ethnic diversity of their governing bodies and Black staff were under-represented compared to the Black student population. Further as an outcome Black students were significantly below the sector-adjusted average for both attainment and employment.
Equality legislation is now extensive and imposes specific responsibilities on governing bodies in terms of equality and diversity standards but governing bodies must now consider moving beyond just compliance. The benefits for Black pupils and staff could be substantial. Governors have a significant role to play in promoting an inclusive institutional culture, supporting equal opportunities and not reinforcing negative stereotypes.
Conference believes that:
1)University executive bodies need to be more democratic, collegiate and transparent in the way they run Higher Education Institutions.
2)That all paid roles should be on the national pay spine to ensure pay equality and transparency at all times.
Conference therefore calls on the Higher Education Service Group Executive to seek to work with the National Black Members Committee to Campaign for:
a)All governing bodies to be more democratic and accountable
b)Executive bodies meetings to be held in open session
c)Transparent and fair appointment processes, including staff representation, better balance in terms of gender and Black representation, and an elected Chair of the Governing body
d)To produce a list of governing bodies of all HEIs and a breakdown of members in terms of ethnicity, gender, disability and LGBT, and any other relevant information.