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Autumn 2011
Governor Development Programme:
A Changing Agenda for
Secretaries and Clerks
Thursday 2 February, 2012
Goodenough College, London
Autumn 2011
GDP Autumn 2011:
Lessons Learned
Professor Dianne Willcocks CBE
Programme Director,
Governor Development Programme,
Leadership Foundation
Autumn 2011
Reviewing GDP:
new programme director;
new programmes;
new opportunities to delight our
customers!
Principles and Practicalities
Feedback from our customers
Toward “lessons learned”
Autumn 2011
Issues of Policy and Principle
 Responding to Audience Diversity
 Responding to Sector Diversity
 Balancing Core business with Critical Content
 Engaging high calibre Speakers
 Securing Value-for-Money
Autumn 2011
Practicalities
Context
Communications
Location/venue
Room management
Materials
management
Management of day
Clustering of groups
Hospitality
Style of delivery
Role of chair!
Autumn 2011
So what did we offer?
Student governors
making a difference
Governance in a new
economic climate
Right side of the law
Shifting priorities for
Governors in Scottish
HEIs (1)
The big picture )
Financial health ) (2)
Collaboration )
Determining
educational character
A Changing Agenda for
secretaries and clerks
(1) Edinburgh (2) Manchester
Autumn 2011
Outcomes
Numbers
Value : excel
Met Aims:
-good-fair
ex-good-fair
DW comment
Student
Governors
78
5-8-5
3-9-6
Student-led; excellent buzz;
benefits outweigh concerns
New Economic
Climate
18
2-6-2
2-5-1
Some excellent input; some
mismatch with audience
Right side of
Law
8
1-1-2
1-0-1-2
Disappointing: take-up; variable
engagement; neg experiences
Scottish
Priorities
30
5-11-2
6-9-3
Scottish-led; policy/politics well
engaged + practical issues
Big Picture
32 )
6-9-2
4-11-1 )
Innovative/ taxing day; good
Financial Health
32 )
“”
)
)
format -worked for all 3 parts:
speakers’ openness welcomed;
“”
“”
)
)
up-to-date strategies - clearly
linked to ‘home’ challenges
3-6-2
4-3-5
“”
Collaboration
Educational
Character
32 )
24
Good mix of hiQ inputs; rich
ideas but sometimes lost focus
Autumn 2011
Outcomes
Benefits
Issues
Student Governors
networking; practical/policy info;
advice re relations; links; GB diversity
cluster HE types; more
interactivity; cost
New Economic Climate
improved understanding: Hefce role;
new funding; future success factors
level; little on CIP; weak
on devoln; on gov’nance
Right side of Law
legal aspects of governance good;
sources of info/support
too much equality ; misbadging
Scottish Priorities
understanding policy/politics; learner light on strategy; room
journey; risk mgt; networking
layout
Big Picture
honesty of presentations/relevance;
helpful info; role model of Chair
balance of issues
Financial Health
different perspectives on finance;
currency of material
some familiarity with
agenda v a lot to take in!
Collaboration
case study was particularly valuable
low attendance at end
Educational Character
exceptional inputs; good for new
govs; addressed sectoral diversity
more focus; more
discussion
Autumn 2011
Something about Audience
Multiple layers of diversity
Independent/staff/student governors/chairs
New to HE/experienced in HE
Secretaries and clerks
Other Executive: professionals/academics
Different parts of sector: scale/positioning
4 x nations
Autumn 2011
Something about Programme Content
“Stick to the knitting” or Innovate
Classic roles and responsibilities
Key governance issues
Emerging policy issues
Speculation/exploration v certainty
Partnerships and stakeholder
relationships
Autumn 2011
Something about Speakers
Must be compelling and competent!
Authoritative: specific expertise/experience
High status
Relevant to the day’s agenda
Well-briefed and well prepared
Range of perspectives by role and agency
Balance “tried and trusted” with new stars
Autumn 2011
Towards Lessons Learned
Better listening skills
Better preparation
Better targeting
Better partnering
Build on our links with key “gatekeepers”
Build on our evident successes