Is It Time for a Major Review of the Governance Structure of Higher Education?

The need for reform of university governance has recently come into question with a series of high profile examples of the apparent failure of the standard "sector norm" model among the post-1992 universities, at London Metropolitan, Leeds Metropolitan and East London Universities. This article takes forward the discussion in two previous (Evans, 2008, 2009). The Leadership Foundation for Higher Education and the Committee of University Chairmen have produced reports and recommendations seeking to make the present model work better. The article examines the genesis of this model and its emerging shortcomings. It considers the implications of trends towards the diminution of student and academic staff participation and the results of Government initiatives, and suggests that a more radical review is needed.