Pages Navigation Menu

The University and College Union at The University of St Andrews

Branch response to Jim Naismith’s graduation address

The University has extensively publicised Jim Naismith’s recent graduation address, in which he calls the bill on university governance currently being debated in the Scottish Parliament an instance of government ‘meddling’ in university autonomy and ‘a source of shame’. Professor Naismith’s views are by no means the opinions of all staff, and we ask the university to publicise other views of this bill.

The bill does not present an identikit solution to governance – it merely recommends minimum levels of representation of staff and students on governing bodies. At the moment part-time and fixed-term academic colleagues, non-academic staff, and research- or teaching-focused academic colleagues are excluded by St Andrews’ governance arrangements from standing or voting in elections for senate assessors. These arrangements quite likely breach employment regulations and indirectly discriminate against female employees.

Such problems have been pointed out to the university, which has been reluctant to act. It seems entirely appropriate, therefore, that they be revised and modernised, to ensure that all kinds of staff can participate in governance. When our staff survey has pointed out that people feel unable to influence, above the level of their school or unit, the policy or direction of the institution, this proposed modernisation can only be a good thing.

The suggestion that university autonomy is being attacked seems to relate to those clauses of the bill which indicate that ministers may modify the numbers or types of people on governing bodies. It has been made clear by parliament that any such changes would require parliamentary and not just ministerial approval.

What the bill proposes is a modest revision of governance arrangements that will, in our view, help us at the University of St Andrews to become a more inclusive and participatory institution.

%d bloggers like this: