Review of Scotland's colleges: accountability
and governance
On 5 February 2007, the Scottish Executive published a report (Review of
Scotland's colleges: accountability and governance) which aims to identify
good practice in accountability and governance in Scotland’s colleges
by learning from current practice, and from the experience of other public
and private sector organisations. The study will also inform: public policy;
implications for funding decisions; consideration of changes to the accountability
and governance arrangements for colleges; and board member training and
development.
The research involved four main strands:
- A Desktop review: analysing literature on public and private sector
governance standards; a review of the background and current position
in accountability and governance in the Scottish College sector; and a
summary of good practice examples drawing from different private and public
sectors.
- Stakeholder consultations: 10 in-depth interviews were conducted with
senior-level stakeholder organisations representatives.
- A survey of colleges Chairs: the objective of the survey was to provide
a consultation opportunity, canvassing views of the Chairs of colleges
on accountability and governance in individual colleges, but also views
on practice in the sector as a whole. The survey achieved an 82% response
rate.
- Case studies: the large proportion of the research work was undertaken
through eight case studies of Scottish colleges selected randomly on the
basis of the college size, geography (urban, rural and remote), merged
versus non merged, and Non-Scottish Funding Council/Commercial income
generation. The case studies involved:
- one-to-one interviews with the Chair, Principal, Secretary (or
in some cases the Clerk where relevant), and another board member;
- two focus groups - one with a group of staff including staff Board
members, and one with a group of students including the student Board
member;
- where there was the opportunity a member of the DTZ team sat in
as an observer at a Board meeting or sub-committee meeting. This was
achieved in four colleges;
- and a review of relevant documents.
The review has highlighted that College Board performance is relatively
good. However, practice has ranged from ‘average’ to ‘very
good’, and ‘exemplar’ in some cases. There is scope to
make significant improvement in the structure, systems and procedures of
accountability and governance, which will raise the standards of Board governance,
and help move the whole sector to the level of the exemplar colleges. Areas
where Boards are working well included: board members’ skills, commitment,
understanding of governance, challenger role towards the Principal and Senior
Management Team, and in team working. The priority areas for development
are in the areas of recruitment, training and development, roles and responsibilities,
board structure, board meetings, board performance, risk and financial management,
accountability and engagement.
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