Nominees invited for the board of the Higher Education Academy

HEFCE are seeking a nominee from the higher education (HE) sector to represent the four UK HE funding bodies on the board of directors of the Higher Education Academy.

The appointment is for an initial term of up to three years.

The deadline for applications is Friday 23 July 2010. Instructions on how to apply are at paragraphs 16 and 17. Do not reply to this e-mail.

About the board
4. The board of directors has corporate responsibility for the strategic direction of the Higher Education Academy and for the way in which it manages its business. It is currently chaired by Professor Sir Robert Burgess, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Leicester. The board has oversight of business planning and is responsible for monitoring performance against agreed targets. It has overall responsibility for the conduct of the Academy?s finances.

5. The Board has 14 members: the current membership list is at www.heacademy.ac.uk/aboutus/governance/board/membership. In the main, membership is drawn from within the HE sector. Two members are appointed by the UK funding bodies in higher education, and the current vacancy is for one of these two appointees. HEFCE is leading on this joint appointment on behalf of the four UK funding bodies: HEFCE, the Scottish Funding Council, the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales and the Department of Employment and Learning (in Northern Ireland).

6. The board?s work is supported by five standing committees: Academic Council; Finance and General Purposes; Governance and Nominations; Remuneration; and Audit.

Responsibilities of the nominee
7. Board directors have legal responsibilities as company directors and charitable trustees.

8. All Board directors are appointed for a three-year term of office, with the possibility of re-appointment.

9. The Board generally meets four times a year. Meetings in 2010-11 have been arranged as follows:

- 30 September 2010
- 10 November 2010
- 2 and 3 February 2011
- 14 April 2011
- 29 June 2011

10. Membership of at least one of the standing committees is also required, which meet up to four times a year. It is estimated that membership of the board and one of its committees will require a time commitment equivalent to approximately one day per month, plus travelling time. There is no remuneration but expenses will be paid.

Criteria
11. You will understand the challenges and associated needs of higher education institutions in providing the best possible learning experience for all students.

12. The nominee will have executive-level experience within a higher education institution, ideally a vice-chancellor who is working in or has worked in a research-intensive university.

13. You will have excellent communication and interpersonal skills and the ability to support and challenge the Academy in its work.

14. You will be able to establish good working relationships with other board members, with Academy staff and with representatives of stakeholder organisations including the UK higher education funding bodies, Universities UK and GuildHE.

15. Equality and diversity are an integral part of the Academy?s work; a Single Equality Scheme is in place (see www.heacademy.ac.uk/assets/York/documents/ourwork/tla/SingleEqualityScheme.pdf). Nominations from under-represented groups, including those from minority ethnic backgrounds and persons with a disability, are particularly welcomed, because these groups are currently underrepresented on the Board.

Appointment process
16. If interested please prepare a statement no longer than one side of A4 which sets out how you meet the criteria outlined in paragraphs 11-15, and provide any other information that you consider relevant.

17. The statement should be posted to Liz Franco, HE Policy Advisor, HEFCE, Northavon House, Coldharbour Lane, BRISTOL BS16 1QD to arrive no later than noon on Friday 23 July 2010. Following short-listing, the nominee will be chosen by a panel composed of officers of the UK funding bodies. The appointment will be confirmed by 6 August 2010. If possible, we would like the nominee to attend the 30 September meeting.

17 June 2010