Chair of Court's responsibilities

Responsibilities

The responsibilities of the Court are set out in the Statement of Primary Responsibilities.

The responsibilities of the Chair include but may not be limited to the following:

Institutional leadership

• Ensure that the Court fulfils all obligations, delivers the objects of the University and fulfils the functions of the Court as prescribed in the University Charter and Statutes.
• Fulfil the charitable purposes of the University and to fulfil Trustee duties and responsibilities as prescribed by the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005.
• Ensure that an effective relationship and lines of communication exist between the Court and the Senatus.
• Review the performance of the Principal annually in accordance with agreed objectives and criteria, and monitor compliance with the Principal’s terms and conditions of employment. Oversee the processes to select, recruit and induct the Principal and the membership of the Court and Court committees.
• The Chair of Court shall also Chair any selection committee appointed to oversee the selection of a Chancellor.

Governance and Court business

• Ensuring that the Court observes the nine principles of public life in Scotland and conducts itself with accordance to expected and appropriate standards of behaviour: duty, selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability & stewardship, openness, honesty, leadership, and respect.
• Monitoring the financial health of the university and ensuring accountability in budgeting and resource allocation.
• Showing commitment to excellence and ensuring the performance of the Court and the University are monitored through appropriate performance indicators and other data.
• Meeting with all members of Court regularly to provide individual support, ensure duties and priorities are clearly understood, and discuss their individual performance and contribution to Court’s work.
• Presiding over meetings of Court and other committees as appropriate, promoting the Court’s effective and efficient operation and ensuring it discusses and resolves those issues it needs to consider.
• Ensuring that members are working together and contribute fully to Court’s debates and decisions.
• Acting in the interests of the University as a registered charity in line with the expectations set out by the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator.
• Being satisfied that the committees of Court and their officers effectively fulfil their remits and make appropriate use of their delegated powers.
• Ensuring that appropriate safeguards are in place to guard against conflicts of interest, so that decisions are made only in the interests of the University and not on behalf of any constituency or interest group.
• Overseeing, as Chair of the Governance & Nominations Committee, the recruitment, selection and induction processes for new members of Court in line with sector-wide best practice and with regard to equality, diversity and inclusion.
• Ensuring that committees which discharge a central role in the proper conduct of the Court’s business report back appropriately.
• Conducting an annual review of the performance of the Court as a whole and, at least once a year, review Court members’ individual contributions to the work of the Court, identifying with those members opportunities for personal development relevant to their governance role. In accordance with the Scottish Code of Good Higher Education Governance (2023), the Court has responsibility for the effectiveness of the Senate and, as with the Court, an externally-facilitated evaluation of its effectiveness is undertaken at least every five years.

Stakeholder management

• Representing the University Court to the Scottish Funding Council and Scottish Government as required.
• Ensuring that the University is well connected with its stakeholders, including staff, students, alumni and the wider community nationally and internationally, including the engagement of the Court in an annual public stakeholder event
• Leading the Court in its work to support a thriving community of students and staff in all parts of the University.
• Working in support of a constructive and appropriately challenging relationship between the Court and the Principal and the wider executive management team of the University, ensuring that there is an appropriate balance of authority between the governing body and the Principal, and that the distinct roles for executive officers and members of the Court are maintained and respected. The Chair shall maintain regular contact with the Principal and the University Secretary to achieve this.
• The Chair will be confident in building funder relationships and will be involved in the promotion of philanthropic giving to the University in support of its fundraising goals.
• Representing the University on the Committee of University Chairs (CUC), the Committee of Scottish Chairs (CSC) and such other national bodies requiring a lay representative as the Court’s Governance & Nominations Committee may determine.
• Being open and available to other stakeholder groups, such as the students’ association, campus unions and staff network groups.
• Acting as an ambassador for the University at events and other occasions as appropriate.