National Institute for Governance

The National Institute for Governance has extensive knowledge and experience in governance areas and in supplying services to organisations similar in size and operation to Australian universities. A sample of the Institute's previous university governance related consultancies include:

Australian College of Theology Study of Governance Restructure

The Institute assessed the current governance structure of the College against the regulatory framework comprising higher education, incorporated associations and Canon law, and current thinking about how governance can best help an organisation achieve its objectives. The report focused on practical examples of best practice and changes in phases compatible with imposed timetables.

National Health and Medical Research Council Review and Training

The Institute assisted the Council in implementing and educating stakeholders on the new governance arrangements under the National Health and Medical Research Council Amendment Act 2006.

The Council, senior staff and external stakeholders were interviewed regarding various governance roles (CEO, Minister, Principal Committees, and the Department of Health and Ageing) and surveyed NHMRC staff designed to assess the understanding of staff of the principles of good governance, the relevance for NHMRC, and the extent of issues of which the CEO needed to be aware.

These informed induction sessions to establish a strong and shared understanding of that model among all Council and committee members as well as staff, serving as an important element of the change process. The report advised on the implementation of the new governance model, based on the data and analysis of the understandings and perceptions of internal and external stakeholders, and articulated a strategic planning governance framework for the Council.

University of Canberra Council Performance Assessment

The Institute assisted the University of Canberra Council to undertake an evaluation of their performance which involved administering a questionnaire, analysing the findings and presenting a report highlighting the issues on which there was agreement that the board performed well; issues where there was disparity of views on the level of performance; and issues on which it was agreed that performance could be improved. The consultancy included discussions with Council on the next steps to improve on performance.

Ministry of Education, New Zealand Review of New Zealand Tertiary Education Institution Governance

Ministry of Education requested research and preparation of a report on recommendations of a new framework to achieve good governance practice for tertiary education institutions in New Zealand . The Report recommended a package of measures to enhance governance performance across the tertiary education system and to better position individual institutions to deal with the increasingly complex educational, technological and commercial challenges of the twenty-first century. Findings were informed by wide-ranging discussions and interviews with stakeholders including Chancellors, Vice-Chancellors and Council Members, meetings with a reference group and a comprehensive analysis of good governance practices elsewhere in the world.

Victorian Department of Education & Training Review of Corporate Governance

On behalf of the Audit Committee and Secretary, the Institute undertook a review of corporate governance within the Department, in light of ANAO better practice, as part of the Department's Internal Audit program; Review assessed leadership structures, risk management development, stakeholder engagement, audit committee oversight, information management and internal and external conformance.

Victorian Department of Education & Training Review of the Implementation of the Victorian Government's Review of University Governance

The Institute provided a report describing how the review outcomes were being implemented and the impacts of these outcomes in Victoria and nationally. Consultancy included reviewing all relevant documentation and identifying the actions that needed to be taken to implement the Government's decisions on the Review of University Governance.

University Governance Research Project

Emeritus Professor Meredith Edwards is currently an investigator on a University of Canberra Research Grant entitled University Governance: Comparative Issues and Current Challenges . The research is being conducted with Professor Mark Turner and Dr Paul Kringas of the School of Business Government at the University of Canberra and is looking at the comparison of university governance in Australia , New Zealand and Canada . Specific objectives include:

• How do university councils define good governance?
• What policies and practices are in place to deal adequately with governance issues such as stakeholder representation and accountability?
• How important are relationships between Chancellor and Vice-Chancellor, Chair of Council and Council members to providing good governance?