1. Professor Ruth Farwell Vice-Chancellor Buckinghamshire New University
Case study: Future Proofing the Organisation - Buckinghamshire New University
Professor Ruth Farwell
Vice-Chancellor
Buckinghamshire New University

2. The Bucks chronology 2006: Inherited positive relationship with SU
2007: ‘Putting students first’ – our mission
2007: ‘Big Deal’ developed as a revised bursary package for 2008 entry
2008: Management development programme with student input
2009: SU launches Education Campaign
2009 onwards: Strategy based on S&4Ps

3. The current national context
Changes to funding alters relationship between universities and students
Students not merely consumers
White Paper: creation of learning communities; feedback encouraged and used
Charters: ‘most enriching when based on a partnership between students and staff’
Feedback on teachers; managing performance

4. Student governors making a difference
Promoting good governance (in broadest sense)
Why?
Primary: shared interest in developing and improving the student experience
Secondary: enhancing individual’s experience
How best to do this?
Partnership between the University and the students (as embodied in the SU)

5. NUS: Good Governance Code of Practice for the Students’ Union Sector
‘Strong relations between higher education institutions and students’ unions act as real catalyst to drive improvement for students across many areas. Where positive co-existence occurs, anything is possible’
Aaron Porter and Steve Smith

6. Relationship Agreement: 8 principles
Strategic Partnership
Student Centred
Respect and Understanding
Openness and Trust
Mutual Support and Commitment
Independence
Accountability
Diversity and Equality

7. Principle 1: Strategic Partnership
SU strategy presented to VC’s senior team
Induction: externally facilitated half day
Semi-informal meetings SU and VC’s senior teams plus Governing Body and SU Trust reps
SU officers attend University strategy sessions with Governing Body
Presentations on student experience from SU officers to Governing Body
Pitch to Governing Body from SU on Big Deal

8. Principle 2: Student Centred
Jointly owned action plan to bring about enhancements in the student experience
Role of SU in monitoring what is happening
Monthly meetings with VC’s senior team
Attempts at triangulation
Revised approach from this September
Student Experience Committees, at University level chaired by VC
Joint welcome at Open Days

9. Principles 3,4,5,6: Respect and Understanding, Openness and Trust, Mutual Support and Commitment, Independence
Recognise that agreement not always possible
Open door policy; picking up the phone
Regular scheduled meetings
Learning Partnership Agreement promotes excellent relationships, but....
Appointed a champion at senior level: Director of Student Experience
Partnership does not imply being VC’s ‘poodle’

10. My belief
University’s role and in particular that of its leaders (VC and Chair) is to facilitate the input of students in the governance process literally
formal procedures
decision making
strategy formation and its implementation
and by setting the right tone

11. Tensions to balance: how do we manage this?
Ownership
Independent ‘watchdog’
Representative views
Views of those most active or vociferous
Sabbatical officers
SU employees
VC and senior team
Middle managers
Learning communities
Compliance with charters