Content
University roles being redefined
18 November 2006
An interesting national debate has been sparked between Chancellors and Vice-Chancellors in Australia, but thankfully, not at USC.
The Australian Vice-Chancellors’ Committee (AVCC), after discussing a consultant’s report on the operations of the AVCC, agreed to move to rename the organisation ‘Universities Australia’, where each university would be represented on this national body by its Vice-Chancellor. There would also be a greater stress on political lobbying and the involvement of high profile external members. Such an organisation was recently formed in the United Kingdom in much this way.
However, some Chancellors have questioned why they were not involved in a proposal that referred to ‘universities’.
It has ignited a national debate about the governance role of Chancellors and University Councils. Chancellors are not members of the University staff, but are people who become involved with universities because of their expertise, experience and stature, and seek to ensure public accountability in their role. They should never become involved in the leadership and management of the university itself on a day-to-day basis. They are, significantly, the independent Chair of the Board.
Some Chancellors, in the context of an increasing concern with good governance, want a more direct involvement in sectoral concerns, but in the process of moving that way could blur roles. In the United Kingdom model from which the Australian variant has developed, Chancellors have retained a much more arms-length approach and would not intervene.
In the months ahead it will be interesting to see whether this issue of leadership and governance is resolved, or whether lack of agreement, even between Chancellors themselves, will lead not only to a redefinition of these titles which are so steeped in ancient university traditions, but also the names and powers of national bodies.
Professor Paul Thomas is Vice-Chancellor of the University of the Sunshine Coast