QPEC Media Release: Tertiary Councils

QPEC Media Release: Tertiary Councils

The National-led Government has stripped tertiary councils of staff and student representation as of right. But universities and wananga still have the power on their own initiative to reinstate these representatives.

There are distinct advantages to doing so.

Staff are the people who do the academic work of the tertiary institutions – the primary reason for universities. They teach the courses, create knowledge, conduct research, publish books and articles, give talks at conferences. They are engaged with the institution in a close, reflective and deeply informed way – more so than other members of Council. Staff members speak for the essential nature of tertiary institutions. Retaining them on council helps maintain academic freedom.

Students face huge demands and pressures nowadays, trying to balance advanced learning, work-life pressures, high fees and employment needs. They deserve to bring their concerns to the councils that govern their lives. Students and student leaders regularly go on to significant roles in society.

Staff and students consistently play a very responsible role in the governance of tertiary institutions.

There are two other major reasons for keeping staff and students on Councils. One is that Government has turned Councils into corporate structures – unrepresentative, business-oriented, and increasingly subject to Government appointees. Councils will inevitably become increasingly detached from their institutions, working in isolation and not necessarily well-informed. Staff and student representatives would mitigate this isolation by retaining well-informed insider experience of universities and wananga.

The other reason is that staff and student representation would help to restore some of the democracy that the National-led government is steadily undermining.

QPEC urges the universities and wananga to retain several staff and student members on their councils.

ENDS

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