Source: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/asp/2016/15
Timestamp: 2019-07-18 18:35:31
Document Index: 4154267

Matched Legal Cases: ['ART 1', 'art. 3', 'art. 8', 'art. 6', 'ART 2', 'ART 3', 'art 1']

Changes over time for: Higher Education Governance (Scotland) Act 2016
14/04/2016- Amendment
15/09/2018- Amendment
There are currently no known outstanding effects for the Higher Education Governance (Scotland) Act 2016.
The Bill for this Act of the Scottish Parliament was passed by the Parliament on 8th March 2016 and received Royal Assent on 13th April 2016
An Act of the Scottish Parliament to make provision about the composition of and appointment to the governing bodies and academic boards of higher education institutions; and to revise provision about the academic freedom of various persons carrying out activities at higher education and certain other institutions.
PART 1 SGovernance arrangements
CHAPTER 1SGoverning bodies
C1Pt. 1 Ch. 1 applied by S.I. 1993/557, art. 3(2)(2A), Sch. 1 Pt. B paras. (6), (7) (as substituted (15.9.2018) by The Edinburgh Napier University Amendment Order of Council 2018 (S.S.I. 2018/170), arts. 1, 4(a), 6(a)(b) (with art. 8))
Senior lay member of governing bodyS
1Position of senior lay memberS
I1S. 1 in force at 30.12.2016 by S.S.I. 2016/382, reg. 2(1)
2Interaction with role of rectorS
(1)Subsection (2) applies in the case of a higher education institution at which there is a rector who has functions under section 4 of the 1858 Act and section 5(5) of the 1889 Act (each of which contains provision relating to the role of the rector at an older university).
(2)Paragraphs (a) and (b) of subsection (2) of section 1 and subsection (3) of that section so far as relating to those paragraphs are of no effect in relation to the institution (but see section 5(5) of the 1889 Act (which also contains provision about who is to preside at certain meetings in the absence of the rector)).
“the 1858 Act” means the Universities (Scotland) Act 1858,
“the 1889 Act” means the Universities (Scotland) Act 1889.
I2S. 2 in force at 30.12.2016 by S.S.I. 2016/382, reg. 2(1)
3Relevant criteria and processS
(1)Whenever a vacancy arises in the position of senior lay member of the governing body of a higher education institution, the governing body must delegate to a committee the responsibility of—
(a)devising the relevant criteria with respect to the position,
(b)ensuring the efficiency and fairness of the process for filling the position.
(2)The relevant criteria include the availability, skills and knowledge considered by the committee to be necessary or desirable to—
(a)exercise the functions of the senior lay member,
(b)command the trust and respect of—
(i)the other members of the governing body,
(ii)the academic board of the institution,
(iii)the staff and students of the institution.
(3)Each time the process for filling the position is undertaken, the committee must make publically available a report indicating by way of overview (and without disclosing individual identities or confidential information)—
(a)the number of applicants for the position,
(b)so far as consent to disclosure has been received by the committee from the applicants, the characteristics listed in section 149(7) of the Equality Act 2010 with respect to—
(i)the applicants,
(ii)the applicants invited to an interview for the position,
(iii)the applicants entitled to stand as candidates in an election for the position following such an interview.
(4)The membership of the committee must include at least one person from each of these categories—
(a)the staff of the institution,
(b)the students of the institution.
(5)Rules made by the governing body of the institution may contain provision about the process for filling the position of senior lay member of the governing body (subject to sections 4 to 8).
I3S. 3 in force at 30.6.2017 by S.S.I. 2016/382, reg. 2(2) (with reg. 3)
4Advertisement and applicationS
(1)A current or upcoming vacancy in the position of senior lay member of the governing body of a higher education institution is to be advertised widely by the governing body, in a manner suitable for bringing the vacancy to the attention of a broad range of persons.
(2)The committee mentioned in section 3(1) is to ensure that the advertisement—
(a)sets out the functions exercisable by the senior lay member of the governing body under section 1(2),
(b)summarises the relevant criteria with respect to the position and states how more information about the relevant criteria can be obtained,
(c)explains—
(i)the process for filling the position,
(ii)how the application form in relation to the position can be obtained,
(iii)that reimbursement is offered of expenses incurred in connection with attending an interview or campaigning in an election for the position,
(iv)that remuneration and allowances are available in connection with the holding of the position.
I4S. 4 in force at 30.6.2017 by S.S.I. 2016/382, reg. 2(2) (with reg. 3)
5Interview of certain applicantsS
(a)an application for the position of senior lay member of the governing body of a higher education institution is made in the correct form in response to an advertisement under section 4(1), and
(b)the application appears to the committee mentioned in section 3(1) to show that the applicant meets the relevant criteria with respect to the position,
the applicant must be invited to an interview conducted by the committee.
(2)If the applicant satisfies the committee at such an interview that the applicant meets the relevant criteria, the applicant is entitled to stand as a candidate in an election for the position.
(3)The governing body of the institution is to offer every applicant for the position reimbursement of reasonable expenses that are incurred by the applicant in attending such an interview.
I5S. 5 in force at 30.6.2017 by S.S.I. 2016/382, reg. 2(2) (with regs. 3, 4)
6When election to be arrangedS
(1)An election for the position of senior lay member of the governing body of a higher education institution must be arranged by the governing body if more than one applicant—
(a)is entitled under section 5(2) to stand as a candidate in the election, and
(b)confirms an intention to stand as a candidate in the election.
(2)If the number of candidates in the election subsequently falls to below two—
(a)the election is to be postponed until the election can be held with more than one candidate standing (and the vacancy must be advertised under section 4(1) again),
(b)the remaining candidate (if there is one) continues to be entitled to stand as a candidate in the election.
(3)The governing body of the institution is to offer every candidate in the election reimbursement of reasonable expenses that are incurred by the candidate in campaigning in the election (up to the limit per candidate that is fixed by the governing body).
I6S. 6 in force at 30.6.2017 by S.S.I. 2016/382, reg. 2(2) (with reg. 3)
7Election franchise and resultS
(1)These persons are entitled to vote in an election under section 6 for the position of senior lay member of the governing body of a higher education institution—
(a)the members of the governing body,
(b)the staff of the institution,
(c)the students of the institution.
(2)No individual is entitled to cast more than one vote in the election.
(3)Each vote cast in the election carries equal weight.
(4)The election is won by the candidate who secures a simple majority of the total number of votes cast.
(5)In the event of a tie between two or more candidates for the highest number of votes cast, the election is won by whichever of them is deemed to be the winner in accordance with rules made by the governing body of the institution.
I7S. 7 in force at 30.6.2017 by S.S.I. 2016/382, reg. 2(2) (with reg. 3)
8Appointment and tenureS
(1)The winning candidate in an election under section 6 for the position of senior lay member of the governing body of a higher education institution is to be appointed to the position by the governing body.
(2)An appointment to the position is for the period specified in rules made by the governing body, but the period of such an appointment may be extended in accordance with the rules.
(3)The position cannot be filled otherwise than by an appointment made by virtue of this section.
I8S. 8 in force at 30.6.2017 by S.S.I. 2016/382, reg. 2(2) (with reg. 3)
9Remuneration and conditionsS
(2)A person appointed to the position may not be a student of, or one of the staff of, the institution during the period of the person's appointment.
I9S. 9 in force at 30.6.2017 by S.S.I. 2016/382, reg. 2(2) (with reg. 3)
Membership of governing bodyS
10Composition of governing bodyS
(e)2 persons appointed by being nominated by a students' association of the institution from among the students of the institution,
I10S. 10 in force at 30.12.2016 by S.S.I. 2016/382, reg. 2(1) (with reg. 5)
11Elections to governing bodyS
I11S. 11 in force at 30.12.2016 by S.S.I. 2016/382, reg. 2(1)
12Nominations to governing bodyS
I12S. 12 in force at 30.12.2016 by S.S.I. 2016/382, reg. 2(1)
13Resignation or removal from bodyS
(i)inability to exercise the senior lay member's functions or (as the case may be) the functions of membership generally,
I13S. 13 in force at 30.12.2016 by S.S.I. 2016/382, reg. 2(1)
14Validity of body's proceedingsS
I14S. 14 in force at 30.12.2016 by S.S.I. 2016/382, reg. 2(1)
CHAPTER 2SAcademic boards
C2Pt. 1 Ch. 2 applied by S.I. 1993/557, art. 6(1), Sch. 1 Pt. B para. (10) (as substituted (15.9.2018) by The Edinburgh Napier University Amendment Order of Council 2018 (S.S.I. 2018/170), arts. 1, 5(a), 6(c))
15Composition of academic boardS
(1)The membership of the academic board of a higher education institution is to be composed of—
(a)the principal of the institution,
(b)the heads of school of the institution,
(c)persons appointed by being elected by the academic staff of the institution from among their own number,
(d)persons appointed by being elected by the students of the institution from among the students of the institution,
(e)such other persons as are appointed—
(i)by virtue of an enactment,
(ii)in accordance with the governing document of the institution, or
(iii)in accordance with a decision of the governing body of the institution.
(2)The academic board is to be constituted in such a way that—
(a)more than 50% of its members fall within subsection (1)(c) or (d),
(b)at least 10% of its members fall within subsection (1)(d).
(3)Despite subsection (2)(b), the academic board is not required to have more than 30 members who fall within subsection (1)(d).
I15S. 15 in force at 30.12.2016 by S.S.I. 2016/382, reg. 2(1) (with reg. 6)
16Elections to academic boardS
(1)This section applies in relation to an election of members to the academic board of a higher education institution for the purpose of each of paragraphs (c) and (d) of section 15(1).
(a)provision specifying the number of appointments to be made,
I16S. 16 in force at 30.12.2016 by S.S.I. 2016/382, reg. 2(1)
17Validity of board's proceedingsS
I17S. 17 in force at 30.12.2016 by S.S.I. 2016/382, reg. 2(1)
CHAPTER 3Skey definitions
18Meaning of higher education institutionS
(1)In this Part, “higher education institution” has the same meaning as in the Further and Higher Education (Scotland) Act 2005 except that it—
(a)includes an institution only if the institution is listed in schedule 2 (fundable bodies) to that Act,
(b)excludes The Open University.
(2)The Scottish Ministers may by regulations modify the definition in subsection (1) so as to exclude a particular institution.
I18S. 18 in force at 30.12.2016 by S.S.I. 2016/382, reg. 2(1)
19Meaning of governing documentS
I19S. 19 in force at 30.12.2016 by S.S.I. 2016/382, reg. 2(1)
20Meaning of governing bodyS
In this Part, “governing body” has the same meaning as in Part II of the Further and Higher Education (Scotland) Act 1992.
I20S. 20 in force at 30.12.2016 by S.S.I. 2016/382, reg. 2(1)
21Meaning of academic boardS
(1)In this Part, “academic board” in relation to an institution means the body which—
(a)is responsible for the overall planning, co-ordination, development and supervision of the academic work of the institution, and
(b)discharges that responsibility subject to the general control and direction of the governing body of the institution.
(2)For the avoidance of doubt, the body described by subsection (1) is the one sometimes known as the Senate, Senatus or Senatus Academicus.
I21S. 21 in force at 30.12.2016 by S.S.I. 2016/382, reg. 2(1)
22References to studentsS
In this Act, a reference to the students of a higher education institution includes all persons holding sabbatical office in a students' association of the institution (whether or not they remain as students of the institution during their period of office).
I22S. 22 in force at 30.12.2016 by S.S.I. 2016/382, reg. 2(1)
PART 2 SAcademic freedom
23Upholding academic freedomS
(1)The Further and Higher Education (Scotland) Act 2005 is amended as follows.
(2)For section 26 (academic freedom) there is substituted—
“26Academic freedom
(d)present controversial or unpopular points of view.”.
I23S. 23 in force at 30.12.2016 by S.S.I. 2016/382, reg. 2(1)
PART 3 SGeneral provisions
Ancillary and consequentialS
24Ancillary regulationsS
I24S. 24 in force at 30.12.2016 by S.S.I. 2016/382, reg. 2(1)
25Consequential modificationsS
The schedule makes consequential modifications.
I25S. 25 in force at 30.12.2016 by S.S.I. 2016/382, reg. 2(1)
26CommencementS
(1)This section and section 27 come into force on the day after Royal Assent.
27Short titleS
The short title of this Act is the Higher Education Governance (Scotland) Act 2016.
The Universities (Scotland) Act 1858S
1(1)The Universities (Scotland) Act 1858 is amended as follows.S
(2)In section 4 (university courts to be constituted), the words “consist of the members and” are repealed.
(3)In section 5 (powers of the senatus academicus and principal)—
(a)the words from “consist of” to “discipline of the University, and” are repealed,
(b)for the words “its property” there is substituted “ the University's property ”.
I26Sch. para. 1 in force at 30.12.2016 by S.S.I. 2016/382, reg. 2(1) (with reg. 6(4))
The Universities (Scotland) Act 1889S
2(1)The Universities (Scotland) Act 1889 is amended as follows.S
(2)In section 5 (which makes provision about University Courts)—
(a)in subsection (1), the words before “Seven” are repealed,
(b)in subsection (2), the words “Chancellor or” are repealed in each place where they occur,
(c)in subsection (5), for the words “a vice-chairman elected by the Court from among all its members” there is substituted “ the senior lay member ”,
“(5A)In subsection (5), “senior lay member” means the person appointed to the position by virtue of section 8 of the Higher Education Governance (Scotland) Act 2016.”.
I27Sch. para. 2 in force at 30.12.2016 by S.S.I. 2016/382, reg. 2(1)
The Universities (Scotland) Act 1966S
3(1)The Universities (Scotland) Act 1966 is amended as follows.S
(a)in subsection (1), after the words “Subject to the provisions of section 17 of this Act” there is inserted “ and Chapter 1 of Part 1 of the 2016 Act ”,
I28Sch. para. 3 in force at 30.12.2016 by S.S.I. 2016/382, reg. 2(1) (with regs. 5(4), 6(4))