Overview
The Higher Education codes of governance, to which ‘publicly’ funded institutions are normally expected to comply, together with the policies of the different funding councils, has given additional impetus to the need for governing bodies to review and consider their own diversity. The expectations of greater diversity among the membership of Higher Education governing bodies have also been influenced by concerns and actions to improve the diversity on corporate boards.
CUC's Higher Education Code of Governance
Element 6 of the Code requires that ‘the governing body must also routinely reflect on its composition and consider taking steps to ensure that it reflects societal norms and values.’
To meet this element, it states that a governing body should consider:
- Requiring its committees to explain within their annual reports, how decisions have taken account of the institution’s EDI policy.
- Setting itself targets in terms of its membership.
- Advertising vacancies locally and nationally, including in local ethnic-minority publications, and via social media.
- Using alumni, particularly as they may give access to a more diverse and younger pool of potential applicants.
- Drawing on search consultancies who can sometimes access a broader pool.
- Building a diverse pool for the future by providing training for potential Governors, appointing them to sub-committees to gain experience, and providing other opportunities for their participation in board-related events.
Scottish Code of Good HE Governance
Principle 9 requires governing bodies to establish goals and policies on the balance of their independent members in terms of equality and diversity, and regularly review their performance. Scottish institutions are required to comply with the code as a condition of funding.
In 2015, the Chairs of Scottish HEIs publicly committed to a target of a minimum of 40% of both men and women lay directors on their governing bodies and to a review of progress in 2018. Although it extends only to external directors, the Chairs have asked students and staff in their institutions, who elect representatives to the governing bodies, to make a similar commitment.
Funding Councils
- In England, Hefce has set a target in its 2015-2020 Business Plan to achieve 40%-60% men or women on governing bodies by 2020. Hefce suggests that governing bodies meeting the target are ‘gender-balanced’.
- In Wales, the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales (HEFCW) includes governance diversity within its Memorandum of Assurance and Accountability. It asks institutions to be proactive when recruiting a new Governor in targeting under-represented groups.
- In Scotland, the SFC asks institutions to respond within their outcome agreements to the Scottish Code of Good HE Governance, which includes diversity requirements.
Find out more about the value of a diverse governing body