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LONDON - Oxford University academics have taken the first step towards handing financial control to outsiders.
The university's New Zealand-born Vice-Chancellor John Hood - former vice-chancellor at Auckland University - wants to change the 900-year-old tradition of its self-governing council and bring in external members to oversee finances.
The university's ruling body adopted, by 652 votes to 507, a compromise amendment that could see the balance of power remain in internal hands. This makes it more likely that Hood, 54, will win the main vote this month.
The chief executive of the Higher Education Funding Council for England, David Eastwood, wrote: "In our view it is difficult to see how the standards for good governance can be met by any higher education institution without that body having an external majority on its executive governing body."
There are at present 25 members of the university council - including four lay members - responsible for both academic and financial matters.
Hood proposes to replace this with separate academic and financial boards. The financial board would have a slim majority from outside the university.
- REUTERS
