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[SE ETLLD AGWG-P10]
REVIEW OF SCOTLAND 'S COLLEGES
WORKING GROUP: ACCOUNTABILITY AND GOVERNANCE IN INCORPORATED COLLEGES
ACCOUNTABILITY AND GOVERNANCE PROJECT
Purpose
1. To provide the agreed 'think piece' from which the specification for the Group's accountability and governance project was prepared.
'Think Piece'
2. We want the project to explore available evidence and current practice within colleges.
3. We want a report describing and evaluating practice within colleges in the areas identified in the annex and identify good practice (and how best to disseminate it).
4. It should include a commentary on how college accountability and governance arrangements:
(a) compare with common practice in the private sector, other post-school education providers, charities and the wider public sector; and
(b) can be further enhanced within a culture of continuous quality improvement.
5. This work will best be undertaken by a combination of literature review and in-depth analysis of a representative sample of college boards.
6. The work requires to be undertaken by a team with a good track record of examining accountability and governance arrangements in both the public and private sectors.
Reviews Team: Review of Scotland 's Colleges
April 2006
PRINCIPLES AND SUPPORTING PRINCIPLES OUTLINED IN 'GOOD GOVERNANCE STANDARD FOR PUBLIC SERVICES [1]', INDEPENDENT COMMISSION ON GOOD GOVERNANCE IN PUBLIC SERVICES, 2004
1. Good governance means focusing on the organisation's purpose and on outcomes for citizens and service users
1.1 Being clear about the organisation's purpose and its intended outcomes for citizens and service users
1.2 Making sure that users receive a high quality service
1.3 Making sure that taxpayers receive value for money
2. Good governance means performing effectively in clearly defined functions and roles
2.1 Being clear about the functions of the governing body
2.2 Being clear about the responsibilities of non-executives and the executive, and
making sure that those responsibilities are carried out
2.3 Being clear about relationships between governors and the public
3. Good governance means promoting values for the whole organisation and demonstrating the values of good governance through behaviour
3.1 Putting organisational values into practice
3.2 Individual governors behaving in ways that uphold and exemplify effective
governance
4. Good governance means taking informed, transparent decisions and managing risk
4.1 Being rigorous and transparent about how decisions are taken
4.2 Having and using good quality information, advice and support
4.3 Making sure that an effective risk management system is in operation
5. Good governance means developing the capacity and capability of the governing body to be effective
5.1 Making sure that appointed and elected governors have the skills, knowledge
and experience they need to perform well
5.2 Developing the capability of people with governance responsibilities and
evaluating their performance, as individuals and as a group
5.3 Striking a balance, in the membership of the governing body, between
continuity and renewal
6. Good governance means engaging stakeholders and making accountability real
6.1 Understanding formal and informal accountability relationships
6.2 Taking an active and planned approach to dialogue with and accountability to
the public
6.3 Taking an active and planned approach to responsibility to staff
6.4 Engaging effectively with institutional stakeholders
7. We also want the project to consider the experience, support and number of student and staff members on college boards [2].
[1] http://www.opm.co.uk/ICGGPS/download_upload/Standard.pdf
[2] This is a matter not specifically covered in the Good Governance Standard