Court gender representation report

Gender Representation Objective A report made in compliance with Section 8 of the Gender Representation on Public Boards (Scotland) Act 2018

The Court of the University of Dundee, being the appointing person under the Gender Representation on Public Boards (Scotland) Act 2018 (the ‘Act’), continues to affirm that it has met the gender representation objective.

Of the fourteen non-executive (or lay) roles on the Court, two are currently vacant, leaving twelve current non-executive members subject to the Act. Of these twelve, three are currently excluded by the Act either because they are elected or because they are nominated by another person. At the point of publication of this report, there are four female members from the remaining nine members. Under the terms of the Act, the gender representation objective (GRO) is met when 50% of the non-excluded membership of a governing body are female. The University currently has an odd number of non-excluded lay members, so the percentage applies as if the Court had one fewer non-excluded lay member than it does (i.e. 50% of eight members).

Consideration of candidates (Sections 3 and 4 of the Act)

Since the University’s previous report, published on its website in February 2021, no appointment processes have been concluded, although following the resignations of two members, the Court now has two vacancies and is about to begin a recruitment process, which it expects to be concluded by the early summer of 2022.

Encouragement of applications by women (Section 5 of the Act)

In making the appointments, the Court and the appointing committee understand the responsibilities set out in the Act and will continue to make appointments in accordance with the Act. In order to encourage applicants from women, a range of online routes have been used in the past (including: Women on Boards, Advance HE Board Vacancy Portal, Public Appointments Scotland, as well as NED.co.uk, Stonewall and other discipline-specific websites), and the University intends to continue the process for subsequent recruitment rounds.

Duty to take steps towards achieving objective (section 6 of the Act)

Since the University has achieved the GRO, no further steps have been taken to achieve and maintain the objective beyond those outlined above.

The Court is however mindful that it will need to take account of the Act and may need to take additional steps in future appointments to ensure that the GRO is maintained.

Court’s commitment to diversity

The University Court has made a commitment to increasing the equality, diversity and inclusiveness of its membership more generally across all the protected characteristics in accordance with accepted principles and best practice and with equality legislation.

(The Court of the University of Dundee February 2022)