1. ACADEMIC LEADERSHIP: UPDATE FROM THE CHAIRS OF ACADEMIC BOARD FORUM Wayne Robinson Chair, Academic Board MIT Chair, CABF Steering Committee C

2. WHAT IS THE CABF [NUHEP]? In November 2011, the Chairs of Academic Boards of non-university private higher education providers met and resolved to form a body to advance the broad principles of good academic governance in the non- university higher education domain. The agreed name is the Chairs of Academic Board Forum for non-university higher education providers-CABF [NUHEP]

3. OBJECTS OF THE FORUM To provide leadership in academic governance To inform government agencies, the higher education sector and other interested parties on academic governance To contribute to the development and dissemination of appropriate academic standards To encourage quality assurance and benchmarking in the Chairs’ respective institutions and industry- wide

4. OBJECTS OF THE FORUM To act as a source of independent expertise on academic governance/standards To provide a forum for Chairs of Academic Boards to discuss issues of significance to higher education To provide continuing professional education for Chairs of Academic Boards To facilitate collaboration on academic governance/standards between universities, industry bodies and NUHEPs.

5. ACADEMIC LEADERSHIP: ISSUES OF SIGNIFICANCE ACADEMIC GOVERNANCE BENCHMARKING GOOD PRACTICE IN TEACHING AND LEARNING A CULTURE OF SCHOLARSHIP

6. ACADEMIC GOVERNANCE In conjunction with ACPET, the CABF commissioned a survey on Academic Boards Highlights: – 94% of Boards ranged in size from 5-15 members – 94% have external members – 52% have student members – 68% have independent Chairs – 92% have a Charter or Terms of Reference – All have Standing Committees of various types

7. ACADEMIC GOVERNANCE Survey findings [continued] – 100% monitor academic standards and quality assurance – 90% advise on academic aspects of strategic plans – 96% determine academic policies and procedures – 86% are formally recognised as independent from corporate governance – 46% of Chairs serve on the Governing body – 66% undertake some benchmarking activity

8. ACADEMIC GOVERNANCE Conclusions and Challenges – Overall, structure and process for academic governance across the sector is credible – Performance against structure and process needs evaluation, and – CABF will lead in provision of a template by adopting guidelines for the sector-GOOD ACADEMIC GOVERNANCE IN NUHEPS-guidelines will be published widely

9. BENCHMARKING Benchmarking was a major topic at the CABF meeting in March 2013 Highlights – Benchmarking a central feature of the Higher Education Standards Framework – The lack of performance benchmarks for the NUHEPs was recognised, especially comparative data on academic performance

10. BENCHMARKING CABF decided to establish a working party to address the question of benchmarking for NUHEPs with an emphasis on good practice benchmarking. The report from the working party to lead to publishing guidelines-ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN NUHEPS: GOOD PRACTICE AND COMPARATIVE APPROACHES Additionally, to explore with national bodies, the development of a standard set of data for benchmarking purposes for NUHEPs

11. FOSTERING GOOD PRACTICE IN LEARNING AND TEACHING At the March 2013 meeting, emphasis was placed on the fact that most NUHEPs consider themselves to be teaching only or teaching intensive institutions. The reputation of institutions rise or fall on the quality of their teaching Therefore, CABF must take a leading role in fostering good practice in learning and teaching

12. SCHOLARSHIP AND NUHEPS Scholarship and especially the culture of scholarship is of paramount importance to NUHEPs. A few Institutions have addressed this through a ‘Scholarship and Research Plan’ and a ‘Continuing Professional Development Plan’ For the NUHEP sector, CABF is addressing these two major aspects by,

13. SCHOLARSHIP AND NUHEPS Providing guidelines for-THE DEVELOPMENT OF A CULTURE OF SCHOLARSHIP THAT INFORMS LEARNING AND TEACHING IN NUHEPs Facilitating workshops/seminars/conferences that address the issue of scholarship and NUHEPs

14. CONCLUDING REMARKS CABF to act as a vehicle for discussion and debate on academic governance at a national level CABF to publish position papers/manuals on good practice in academic governance CABF to provide leadership on academic good practice through workshops/seminars/conferences CABF to initiate contact with major national players in the academic governance sphere