UNISON has given a cautious welcome to today’s independent report into University of Bath governance, but warned that its recommendations do not go far enough.
The review was triggered by outrage over pay inequality and efforts of those in senior positions to sideline and silence student and staff criticisms.
UNISON agreed with the review’s conclusion that there exists a culture of “fear” at the University and that it “requires considerable improvement in order to restore the trust and confidence damaged by recent events”.
UNISON organiser for the University of Bath Simon Newell added:
“The conclusions in this report have been obvious to staff and students for years. It’s a symptom of Bath University’s failures of governance and accountability that it’s taken two external reviews for it to be recognised.
“Those responsible for effective governance at the University are identified in the report: the Vice Chancellor, Chair of Council and University Secretary. Two have now announced their resignations. The position of the University Secretary is clearly untenable.
“We now have an opportunity to put things right. The recommendation for staff and student representation on the Remuneration Committee that decides the pay of senior managers is a good start, but these representatives must be directly elected by their peers, not selected by existing university governors.
“The principle cause of the failings here has been the way in which the governing body became a self-appointing clique of mostly business people, detached from the realities of the university. For that reason, we need to see greater representation of lower paid university staff on the governing body and democratic elections for all of its members so that it becomes truly accountable to the whole university community.”
