Could you be a college governor?

The new regime for Institutes and Colleges of Further and Higher Education means governing bodies for the newly amalgamated colleges will have to be re-formed. As a result, the department for Employment and Learning will soon be advertising these positions, with particular emphasis on recruiting those from under-represented groups, as the department explains in a letter:

21 August 2006

Dear colleague,

GOVERNORS OF FURTHER EDUCATION COLLEGES

In September 2005 the then Minister with responsibility for Employment and Learning, Angela Smith MP, announced major changes to the structure of the further education sector in Northern Ireland. By August 2007, the management units of the sixteen existing colleges will have been merged to form six larger college units. This process necessitates the establishment of governing bodies for the new institutions, and my purpose in writing is to advise you that the Department is about to place advertisements in the press this week to attract applications to be members of the new governing bodies, and to seek your assistance in promoting these opportunities across the whole spectrum of Northern Ireland society.

The position of governor is of great importance to the effective management of the college. The governing body is responsible, among other things, for:

• Ensuring that the college acts as a responsible employer;
• Agreeing the college’s overall strategy and monitoring its implementation;
• Securing the efficient and effective management of the college; and
• Appointing and agreeing terms and conditions for senior staff members.

The most effective governing body is one that properly represents the multi-faceted nature of our society. Women, young people, people with disabilities and people from ethnic minorities are currently under-represented on the further education governing bodies, and I would be very grateful if you could assist the Department in getting the very best