Co-opted member of Court Appointments
Join us and make your mark
Are you looking for a new and exciting opportunity to guide an ambitious, global university?
The University is looking to appoint co-opted members to join the University's Court and help us achieve our plans. We are seeking people who are motivated by our ambitions and who can bring innovative thought and challenge.
The Court is the university’s governing body and oversees our strategy and vision. You can help us in delivering our Vision and Values - placing these at the heart of everything we do.
This is a unique opportunity to become a critical friend, provide expert guidance and assist in taking the University forward. Ideally, candidates will demonstrate a range of skills and have significant strategic leadership experience gained within large, complex organisations. We would particularly welcome applications from those with expertise in Audit and Risk, and Estates.
If you share our values and can help the University achieve its ambitious goals and deliver positive change, we would be delighted to hear from you.
Equality and diversity
The University of Glasgow is committed to equality and ensuring all students, staff and visitors have a positive experience of the learning, teaching, research and work environment.
We are keen to hear from people excited by the opportunity to add value irrespective of their sex, gender identity, gender re-assignment, age, disability, sexual orientation, religion or belief, race and traditionally under-represented groups, and to preserve gender balance on the Court in accordance with the Gender Representation on Public Boards (Scotland) Act 2018, we would welcome and encourage applications from women.
The University of Glasgow & UK HE
We have consistently been ranked as a top 30 university in the UK and top 100 in the world.
- 76th QS World University Rankings 2024
- 87th THE World Rankings 2024
- 26th Complete University Guide 2024
- 13th Guardian UK University Rankings 2024
- Times & Sunday Times Good University Guide: Scottish University of the Year 2024
We’ve been making history since 1451
We have been changing the world for more than 500 years and plans to continue to developing the world changers of the future.
The University of Glasgow fostered the talents of seven Nobel laureates and many political leaders who have had a profound impact on life in Scotland, the UK and across the world. Scotland’s first female medical graduates completed degrees at the University in 1894 and the world’s first ultrasound images of a foetus were published by Glasgow Professor Ian Donald in 1958. In 1840 the University of Glasgow was the first in the UK to appoint a Professor of Engineering and first in Scotland to have an electronic computer in 1957.
More recently, the University has invested in academic facilities, including the newly completed James McCune Smith Learning Hub and the Advanced Research Centre. We aim to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030, and intend to consolidate our position as a diverse, inclusive institution which welcomes staff and students from around the world.
Glasgow is in an elite group of globally leading research-intensive universities. Over the last few years we have made great strides in our performance. Our strategic plan sets out our ambitions to build on our current strong academic and financial position to be a world-changing university.
UK Higher Education
The UK is a global leader in higher education research and teaching. The sector generates more than £30bn of revenue for the UK economy; in Scotland, the annual economic impact now stands at £6.7bn gross value added. The Scottish HE Sector currently employs around 50,000 people and supports over 144,000 jobs in the Scottish economy.
Scotland has a world-renowned education system, top-class universities and a reputation for producing creative thinkers and innovators. More than 241,000 chose to study in Scotland, including more than 50,000 are international students from over 180 different countries. Scotland is home to 15 campus-based universities, as well as three specialist institutions and to 2 of the world’s top 100 universities [Times Higher World University Rankings 2024].
The Scottish HE sector has pioneered developments in teaching including an ‘enhancement-led’ approach that makes students a key partner in the quality of their education. Scotland’s universities are also a world-class research force, pushing the boundaries of discovery and placing the sector at the very top of international rankings for the citation of research findings.
Higher education in Scotland is devolved to the Scottish Parliament, with funding and policy decisions affecting higher education taken primarily by the Scottish Government, Scottish Parliament and Scottish Funding Council.
The University Court
The Court is the University’s governing body and is the legal persona of the University. Its powers have been defined over a number of years, commencing in 1858 when the Court was first established, and are set out in the Universities (Scotland) Acts 1858-1966 and the Higher Education Governance (Scotland) Act 2016, and subsidiary ordinances, resolutions and regulations.
Court is the University’s legal authority and collectively it is responsible for the proper conduct of the University’s public business, for strategic vision, monitoring effectiveness and performance of the University, approving Finance, Estate, People & OD strategies including diversity and inclusion and ensuring the good name and values of the University. The Court has 25 members with each playing an integral role.
Click here to view the current membership of University Court
Click here to view the Statement of Primary Responsibilities of the University Court
The role of the Co-opted Court Member
Your knowledge and experience will assist our inspiring people to change the world together
The main purpose of the role of the Court Member is to assist Court in performing its statutory functions.
Co-opted Court Members are neither employees nor students of the University, and are appointed by the Court itself - forming a majority of members on Court. Once appointed, all members are charity trustees as the University is a registered educational charitable body.
As a founding member of the Russell Group, Glasgow is one of the UK's leading research universities. It has a strong and growing international profile with over 9,000 employees and an annual turnover of £928M, having a powerful impact on the Scottish economy. The succesful candidate will be contributing to the University’s development at an exciting time following the publication of our new Strategic Plan and major redevelopment plans for the campus.
Co-opted Court Member responsibilities and Candidate requirements
The Co-opted Court Member duties and responsibilities are:
- Standards
- All Court Members are responsible for ensuring that they conduct themselves in accordance with accepted standards of behaviour in public life, embracing selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty, and leadership.
- All Court Members must provide an up-to-date Register of the Interests and shall make a full and timely personal disclosure of any actual or perceived conflict of interest.
- Business of the University
- Co-opted Court Members, through the Chair, should endeavour to establish a constructive and supportive but challenging working relationship with the senior managers of the University, recognising the proper separation between governance and executive management, and avoiding involvement in the day-to-day executive management of the University.
- Co-opted Court Members are expected to sit on at least one or more of the following committees of Court: the Audit & Risk Committee, Finance Committee, Estates Committee, Student Experience Committee, Nominations Committee, People and Organisational Development Committee, Information Policy and Strategy Committee, and the Remuneration Committee.
- Personal
- Court Members will have a strong personal commitment to Higher Education and the values, aims and objectives of the University.
- Court Members will, at all times, act fairly and impartially in the interests of the University as a whole, using independent judgement and maintaining confidentiality as appropriate.
- Court Members drawn from a particular sector or community, must not act as if delegated by that particular constituency.
- Court Members are expected to attend all meetings of which they are a member, or give timely apologies if absence is unavoidable.
- Court members will attend induction/training events organised by the University or other appropriate bodies such as Advance HE as required.
For this important role, we are keen to hear from candidates with the following attributes, qualities, and experience:
- Significant leadership of strategic issues within a large complex organisation
- Significant Senior management experience, including risk management or professional finance experience.
- Professional expertise in matters relevant to the successful operations of a large, diverse organisation, in particular in Audit and Risk, and Estates
- Experience of strategic board and committee meetings
- Knowledge or understanding of governance in organisations
- Understanding and experience of strategic planning, financial planning and budgetary processes
- Integrity, sound judgement, tact, diplomacy and sensitivity
- Demonstrable authority
- The ability to address and resolve conflicting views in a constructive manner
- The ability to constructively challenge and influence
- The ability to establish cordial relationships with a diverse range of people across all of the University’s stakeholder groups
- A strong personal commitment to Higher Education and empathy with the values and aims of the University of Glasgow
- Demonstrable commitment to equality and diversity.
In addition, the following knowledge and experience would be advantageous:
- Experience of Research Councils, relevant charities or public/government organisations.
- Knowledge of philanthropic fundraising.
- Knowledge of the international environment, particularly in relation to Higher Education.
- Knowledge of the University of Glasgow or equivalent research-led universities.
Court member benefits and terms
Membership of the Unviersity court would be for four years in the first instance.
This is an important role, requiring time commitment and flexibility, given that the actual time spent on the role can be unpredictable. Candidates will be expected to commit to around 12-15 days per year, plus personal preparation time, to effectively fulfil the duties.
Typically Court Members are required to prepare for, travel to and participate in the following meetings and events per year:
- Five meetings of Court per annum: these currently take place between September and June on a Wednesday afternoon from 2.00 pm for about 3 hours, preceded from about 11am with briefing meetings.
- Five meetings of a Court Committee.
- Occasional events, dinners, lectures, attendance at strategy days.
Membership of the University court is non-executive and brings with it following benefits:
- It is a unique opportunity to become our critical friend, provide expert guidance and assist in delivering innovative solutions.
- As a Court Member, the University offers the platform to engage, inspire and influence regionally, nationally and internationally whilst expanding personal and professional horizons.
This position is unremunerated, however University will meet all reasonable expenses incurred in connection with membership of the Court or activities on behalf of the University, including childcare costs.
Candidates must not be employees or current students of the University of Glasgow.
How to apply
Closing Date: Friday 17th May 2024
Interviews: Tuesday 4th June 2024
To apply, please submit a comprehensive Curriculum Vitae along with a Covering Letter setting out your interest in the role and details of how you match the required criteria. Applications should be sent via the below link:
For a confidential discussion about these opportunities, please contact Amber Higgins, Executive Officer and Clerk of Court, Court Office:
- Amber.Higgins@glasgow.ac.uk
- Direct line: +44 (0)141 330 4976
- Mobile: 07811 804704