Universities' draft code under attack

A new draft code of conduct to improve the governance of Scottish universities has been attacked as weak and vague, writes Andrew Denholm for Scotland Herald. The criticism comes after the code was published by a steering group of experts chaired by Lord Smith of Kelvin.

The draft code makes a number of key recommendations on the appointment and pay of university principals. It also recommends changes to the way the chairs of university ruling courts are appointed. However, students and lecturers said it did not go far enough in involving them in key decisions, and they called for the Scottish government to reject it.

Gordon Watson, president of the UCU Scotland lecturers' union, said: "This is a code written by managers for managers...Despite claims of improved transparency and greater openness, the code simply re-states principles that already apply and there is little in this report that is new or progressive."
Full report on the Scotland Herald site