- The Guardian
- Issue #2201
La Trobe University, Bundoora. Photo: Nadia.saadatmand – commons.wikimedia.org (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Victorian universities would have a minimum of three staff and two student representatives on governing bodies under new recommendations in a landmark parliamentary report.
The Legislative Assembly Economy and Infrastructure Committee Inquiry into enhancing Victorian university governance has released its final report.
It contains 17 recommendations to make universities more transparent and accountable, and boost staff and student voices on governing councils.
The committee calls for a minimum of three staff and two student representatives on university councils and senates.
Under its unanimous recommendations, universities would be required to publish council meeting agendas and outcomes, ending years of secrecy around decisions that affect staff and students, and to publish an annual remuneration report benchmarking the pay of council members.
Other recommendations include:
Improved transparency of Council appointments
A public register of interest for all council members
New reporting requirements on consultancy expenditure, including outcomes
Universities reporting on Indigenous student support, engagement and activities in annual reports, developed in partnership with the Victorian Aboriginal Education Association
Review of university complaints systems
National Tertiary Education Union Victoria Division Secretary Sarah Roberts said the report confirms what university staff have known for years, that governing bodies have operated behind closed doors while making decisions that reshape people’s jobs and courses without explanation.
“The State government must act on these recommendations in full. Transparent meetings, published pay benchmarks and a real say for staff and students on council are not radical asks. They are the basics of good governance.”
Said National Tertiary Education Union Victoria Assistant Secretary Professor Joo-Cheong Tham: “We call upon Victorian universities and their Chancellors to pro-actively implement the committee’s recommendations and address the concerns it has raised to fix the crisis of confidence they are facing.”
Victorian Trades Hall Council Assistant Secretary Danae Bosler agreed, saying that “the social license of Victorian universities has been smashed by years of corporate mismanagement. The recommendations in this report would finally see it rebuilt.
“Victorian unions congratulate the staff, students and advocates who have fought, often at great personal cost, to restore integrity in university governance. It’s finally time for their voices to be heard.”
National Union of Students National President Felix Hughes said: “For too long, decisions at universities have been made behind closed doors, leaving students and staff to deal with the consequences. This report recognises that the status quo has failed and calls for real reform to make university leadership more transparent and accountable.
“Students deserve a real say in how their universities are run. Legislating at least two elected students on every university council would be a massive win for student representation and a major shift in who gets a voice at universities.”
