Who runs your University? Governance, democracy and business influence in higher education National UCU workshop - Friday 6 March 2009 (11am - 4pm)

Who runs your University?
Governance, democracy and business
influence in higher education
National UCU workshop - Friday 6 March 2009 (11am - 4pm) -
hosted by University of East London UCU.

Keynote speakers include:
Dr Alastair Hunter (Glasgow University, UCU President Elect),
Professor Michael Rustin (University of East London)
The question of Governors and their influence on our universities has become a
pressing issue. This workshop considers:


• Who sits on your Board of Governors? Who appoints them, monitors
them, dismisses them? What is their influence on university affairs?

• Do you have adequate representation of academic staff among
Governors? Are they able to represent your interests effectively? Are they
excluded from key debates and decisions? How influential are Senates and
Academic Boards in shaping the policy of your university?

• How many of your Governors are from the world of business? Do they
have experience of higher education? Are their inputs appropriate? Do they use
their influence positively?

• How do UCU members feel about growing corporate influence in higher
education at a time when business failures are daily headline news?

• How can we challenge the sustained attacks on Charters and Statutes in
pre-1992 universities?

UCU invites you to UEL Docklands Campus, where there has been intense
debate about the role of Governors and about unwanted corporate
influence. All branches and LAs are encouraged to send members who can
share your local experience and help to develop UCU’s national policy.

For further details contact Rob Copeland: rcopeland@ucu.org.uk