Continuous good governance in higher education

Good governance is critical to the effective operation of Scotland’s higher education institutions and to their ability to make a full contribution to Scotland’s success. Good governance at the institutional level is underpinned by sector-wide principles and standards, which are set out in the Scottish Code of Good Higher Education Governance.

The Code is routinely reviewed and this process last took place throughout 2022. A revised version of the Code will be published here imminently.

 

Custodianship of the Code

Safeguarding good governance in higher education is the responsibility of the Chairs of institutions’ governing bodies, who together form the Committee of Scottish Chairs. The current Chair of the Committee of Scottish Chairs is Colin Hunter, who is Chair of Court at Robert Gordon University.

Every higher education institution in Scotland has a governing body — usually known as the ‘Court’ or ‘Board’ — which includes independent members, members drawn from the institutions’ staff and students, the Principal and, in some universities, the Rector. The governing body is the ultimate authority within a higher education institution and it has a key role in providing oversight of the institution’s management.

Higher education institutions are autonomous and the sector is diverse. All our institutions have slightly different governance arrangements, but all work to a set of core principles that exist to promote the highest standards of leadership and oversight. The CSC recognises that good governance is always evolving and is committed to monitoring best practice and to regular reviews of the Code of Governance.