Extenuating Circumstances is a legal higher education podcast by Paul Greatrix, director of higher education consultancy at Shakespeare Martineau. Every aspect of higher education is affected, or at the very least touched by, the law. In this podcast Paul is in conversation with senior figures from across the sector to explore some of the bigger legal and regulatory issues in higher education, the ways in which they as leaders are responding to them, and how these are playing out in practice.
Episode 8: Governing Independently: introducing the new IHE Code of Governance
This episode of Extenuating Circumstances is a discussion on a different angle on higher education governance. Involved in the conversation are two members of the Board of Independent Higher Education (IHE) - Marion Lowe, Director of Governance and Compliance at SP Jain London School of Management and Andrew Boggs, an experienced governance professional who has been secretary to the governing body at a number of institutions. In the conversation we learn something about the diverse membership and the background of IHE but the main focus is the recently updated IHE Code of Governance and Marion and Andrew talk us through the various aspects and uses of the Code. The differences to the CUC Code, the approach to 'apply or explain', arrangements for effectiveness reviews and the need for institutions to engage seriously with the Code to ensure their governance is heading in the right direction are all explored. We also cover the importance of governance culture and the value of the Code as a guide to newer institutions.
You can find the IHE Code of Governance herehttps://ihe.ac.uk/latest/publications/code-governance-independent-providers-higher-education
Episode 7: Getting to Grips with Governance - the new CUC Code for Higher Education
In the latest edition of Extenuating Circumstances, the legal and regulatory focused higher education podcast, I'm in conversation with James Dunphy who is the Chief Executive Officer of the Committee of University Chairs. In our discussion we cover a lot of governance ground including the role of the CUC, the consultation involved in developing the new Code of governance, changes which have been introduced with the new Code, further elements of the CUC cinematic universe and broader developments in the world of governance including, of course, reference to the Gillies report. We also touch on how the divergence of regulatory arrangements across the nations of the UK is addressed by the CUC. James has much of interest to say on all of these points and there is much to be learned from listening to his thoughts.
Episode 6: The best kept (legal) secret in higher education? In this, the latest episode of Extenuating
Circumstances, the not at all topical legal(ish) higher education podcast, I am in conversation with Alex Hall and Sam McGinty of the Association of University Legal Practitioners or AULP. Described by one Vice-Chancellor as the sector's best kept secret, AULP has been operating and growing for 30 years now. From small beginnings around a dinner table in a Pizza Express it now has over 800 members across the UK and Ireland. In discussion Alex and Sam share some of the AULP's strategic ambitions and the benefits the organisation brings in terms of cross-sector collaboration. We also explore the changing role of the university lawyer and learn about some of the professional development opportunities provided for members. AULP might not have the prominence of some higher education organisations (yet) but it is certainly providing a good service for lawyers and their universities.
Episode 5: Turbulent times - the challenges facing university leaders
This episode of Extenuating Circumstances, the higher education podcast with a legal flavour, is focused on institutional leadership. In particular we explore the issues which emerge in a report by Ben Tucker, a founding partner at Minerva, entitled Leading in Times of Turmoil. For the report Ben interviewed a selection of university vice-chancellors and in my discussion with him we cover some of the big issues which emerge. Topics covered include: the character of those in these most challenging of roles; how vice-chancellors are managing the many challenges faced by their universities; operating strategically and learning in the role; and engaging much more actively and openly with the board of governors and working more effectively with the chair. We also discuss mergers and the difficulties they present; how styles of leadership have changed in recent years and the latest trends in vice-chancellor recruitment and selection. Ben is able to share some genuinely interesting insights from his conversations with university leaders.
Episode 4: Current higher education governance issues – in Brighton and beyond
In this edition of Extenuating Circumstances, the legal-related higher education podcast, we're exploring the issue of governance in the sector in the context of all of the current challenges and with specific reference to the University of Brighton. The discussion this time involves Jeff Cronkshaw, current Chair of the Board of Governors at Brighton, and Dr Anna Dulic-Sills, the University's Chief Corporate Officer. In a wide ranging discussion we cover the broader challenges of the current HE environment and the impact on governance, the significant developments in the culture, approach and operation at Brighton and the various impacts of the Gillies report. There is a lot in here and some really interesting insights into the approach to governance at one institution.
Episode 3: Securing and promoting academic freedom and free speech - not as easy as it sounds
In this edition of Extenuating Circumstances, the new legal-related higher education podcast, we're looking at academic freedom and free speech , some of the most keenly debated issues inside and indeed beyond the HE sector. We are very much about looking at these legal issues from a practical real world perspective, rather than getting into the legal details, and in this discussion we hear from Dr Helen Galbraith, who is Senior Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Chief Operating Officer at the University of Chester as well as serving as the Chair of AHUA, and Mike Shore-Nye who has been at the University of Exeter for over a decade and where he is Senior Vice-President, Registrar and Secretary. Both have a good deal to say across the range of academic freedom and free speech issues, from the so-called chilling effect to the likely impact of the outcome of the University of Sussex free speech court case.
Episode 2: Regulation, regulation, regulation
This episode of the Extenuating Circumstances podcast is very much concentrated on the thorny issue of higher education regulation in all its many guises. This discussion features two sector stalwarts in the form of Vikki Goddard, Chief Academic Services Officer at the University of York, and Patrick Hackett, Registrar, Secretary and Chief Operating Officer at the University of Manchester. The debate is facilitated by me, Dr Paul Greatrix, Director of HE Consultancy at Shakespeare Martineau, and we cover a broad range of issues, not least of which is the growth in the level of regulator intervention into institutional life and the increase in regulatory burden. The stakes are arguably higher than they have ever been on the regulatory front and the consequences of breaches of regulations more significant, making this a fertile area for discussion.
Episode 1: Free Speech North and South of the Border
The inaugural episode of the Extenuating Circumstances podcast focuses on free speech and academic freedom in both England and Scotland. The very insightful guests for this discussion are Rachel Sandby-Thomas, Registrar at the University of Warwick and Dr David Duncan, University Secretary and Deputy Vice Chancellor (Governance) at the University of Glasgow. The podcast is hosted by me, Dr Paul Greatrix, Director of HE Consultancy at Shakespeare Martineau, and covers a great deal of free speech territory, from the different frameworks applying either side of the border to the challenges of dealing with an assertive regulator. Note though that recording took place just before the announcement of the judgement in the University of Sussex case so, sadly, we were unable to cover that momentous issue this time.