The University of Buckingham is a non-profit private university in Buckingham, England and the oldest of the country’s five private universities. It was founded as the University College at Buckingham in 1973, admitting its first students in 1976. It was granted university status by Royal Charter in 1983. It is the only independent university in the UK with a Royal Charter, and probably the smallest with around 3,200 students. Uniquely, the University specialises in two-year undergraduate degrees, allowing students to complete their studies one year earlier than elsewhere.
The University of Buckingham provides students with a distinctive, high-quality, student-centric alternative to other institutions. It was awarded a Silver ranking in the recent Teaching Excellence Framework, and has always scored very highly in the National Student Satisfaction survey. With a turnover of c. £48m, a current total of around 3,200 students, and 360 staff, the University is organised into four Faculties: Medicine and Health Sciences; Education; Computing, Law and Psychology; and Business, Humanities and Social Sciences. The University campus is well known for being one of the most attractive locations in the region. The Great Ouse river, home to much wildlife, winds through the heart of the campus. Each student mixes with over 100 different nationalities.
In July 2023, Council formally approved the University’s new five-year Strategic Plan. Providing the University with a roadmap for success in the medium-term, the Plan differentiates the University from the rest of the sector, with a distinctive offer to prospective students and staff founded on the University’s status as an independent institution. The University believes that the pursuit of free enquiry is more important now than ever before and that its students and academics will be pro-actively encouraged to engage in open debates, where different perspectives and viewpoints are welcomed, changing and challenging the higher education environment.
With this in mind, the Council now seeks to appoint new Trustees to further strengthen its governance. The University of Buckingham is at an exciting juncture in its history, and these Trustees will have a unique opportunity to help the University to achieve the vision, mission and strategic ambitions set out in the new Strategic Plan.
For more information, please see the University’s Trustee Recruitment Brochure.
Role specification
The University’s Council is responsible for the determination of the educational character and mission of the University and for the general oversight of its activities, including the effective and efficient use of its resources. It approves the university’s strategy, which supports and informs the setting of strategic and other priorities for the future. It is guided in its role by a Vice-Chancellor who, as chief executive, is responsible for providing transformational leadership to ensure that the university achieves its strategic aims, delivers an outstanding student experience and fulfils its responsibilities to staff and key stakeholders.
Council comprises eminent external and independent members, ex-officio members (including the Vice-Chancellor, the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Academic) and the President of the Students’ Union), elected members from the University’s Senate, an elected member from the University’s professional services staff, a nominated student and a nominated alumnus. All members of Council are charitable trustees of the University and are appointed in accordance with the Charter, Statutes and Ordinances of the University.
The University is seeking to appoint four or five independent Trustees to the university’s Board to take forward its strategic ambitions. It seeks independent Trustees who bring strategic insight and experience to enable the university to achieve its ambitions in a rapidly changing and challenging higher education environment.
The responsibilities of independent Trustees include a number of areas as set in the University’s Statutes:
- Appointment and employment
- Governance and audit
- Strategic
- Financial, Legal and Regulatory
- Estate and Property Management
- Academic and Administrative
- Student and Staff Welfare
- Equality and Diversity
- The Students’ Union
- Removal of Officers of the University
The Ordinances also set out a series of requirements that trustees are required to meet in carrying out their duties as Council members effectively and diligently. Trustees have a duty to observe the highest standards of corporate governance, meeting the requirements of the Committee of University Chairs’ Higher Education Code of Governance, ensuring and demonstrating integrity and objectivity in carrying out the business of the University and by adopting a spirit of openness and transparency.
As a registered charity and as a registered higher education provider, the University is regulated by both the Charity Commission and the Office for Students (OfS). Council is responsible for the University’s compliance with the legal and regulatory requirements of these bodies, including in the case of the OfS, the requirements of its Regulatory Framework. The University maintains a directors and officer insurance policy that indemnifies trustees in their role. All successful candidates must pass the OfS ‘fit and proper persons’ check, which is standard procedure for all Trustees.
Person specification
Independent Trustees bring to the Council and the University particular areas of expertise and perspectives from a range of sectors and disciplines to benefit the Council’s strategic oversight of the University’s activities.
It is essential that appointees are individuals of the highest calibre and standing in their particular discipline or field, and that they have a willingness to give the time required to contribute effectively to the work of Council and the University. The Council therefore seeks individuals with the following attributes:
- A strong commitment to the role higher education plays in people’s lives and support for the vision, values, objectives, and strategy of Buckingham University
- A personal commitment to the seven Nolan Principles of Public Life
- A proven track record of leadership gained within large and/or complex organisations in either the public, private, or not-for-profit sectors
- The vision and inquisitiveness to contribute effectively to strategic thinking and decision-making, and to have the ability to challenge effectively and act as a ‘critical friend’
- Ideally, a proven track record of operating at non-executive level, though exceptional candidates will be considered for whom this would be their first board level position
- A high level of integrity and probity, and the ability to act fairly, impartially, and in the best interest of the University at all times
In addition to the above requirements, Council is looking to appoint individuals from this recruitment round who have significant current/recent experience in one or both of the following areas:
Finance: Individuals will bring senior finance leadership. They will have great attention to detail and bring scrutiny to the Executive team and Council on various financial and auditing matters.
HR: Individuals will bring senior HR leadership experience. They will provide strategic advice / guidance on matters relating to people, human resource management and talent development. The HR experience can come from any sector, but candidates must have a strategic understanding of how HR can support an organisation to achieve its overall objectives.
IT & Digital: Individuals will bring senior IT/technology leadership experience. They may have a background as a CIO, CTO, CDO, IT Director, Consultant or Advisor. They will have an appreciation of wider developments and upcoming changes in digital infrastructure and will be able to apply this knowledge to provide strategic guidance on areas integral to the University, including administration, accounts and security. The will ensure the University is well prepared for future developments in technology and maintains careful oversight of its digital risk.
Environment/Sustainability: Individuals will have senior leadership experience spearheading environmental initiatives and embedding sustainability practices. They will be responsible for strategically assessing the University’s environmental footprint, driving ambitious sustainability goals, and fostering a culture of environmental responsibility. A deep understanding of relevant regulations and a passion for positive change are key.
Estates: Individuals will bring senior leadership experience in property/estates, architecture or property development. This individual will be reviewing the strategic opportunities around the University’s campus and will bring significant experience in estates, building development and/or architecture and sustainability.
Previous non-executive experience is not a requirement for this role as the University offers a thorough on-boarding programme and training for all new Governors. Applicants should feel capable of advising on strategy in a complex environment with multiple stakeholders, and will bring an ability to work in a collaborative manner, debating constructively, and will be an excellent communicator with the ability to influence others. Candidates should also highlight any previous fundraising experience in their Reason for Application.
Board composition
To find out more about the Board, please see here.
Terms of appointment
This is a voluntary role but reasonable, pre-agreed expenses will be reimbursed. The initial term of office for all trustee appointments is three years, subject to renewal for a further two terms on the basis that Council is supportive of the re-appointment.
Ordinary Council meetings are held six times throughout the year on campus in Buckingham. The default position is for trustees to attend board meetings in person, though arrangements can be made for virtual attendance when required. Though the majority of business is conducted at meetings, the University’s business can occasionally require decisions to be taken by correspondence between meetings. Council delegates a number of its responsibilities to its sub-committees:
- Audit and Risk Committee – usually meets four times per year
- Finance and Resources Committee – usually meets four times per year
- Nominations and Governance Committee – usually meets twice per year
- Remuneration Committee – usually meets twice per year
In addition to serving on Council, independent trustees are expected to serve on at least one sub-committee. These meetings are held using a hybrid model. There is also the opportunity to represent the University at other functions and engagements.
With all this in mind, candidates will need to be UK based.
Diversity
The University of Buckingham welcomes applications from everyone regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, faith or disability. As those from ethnic minority backgrounds are currently under-represented on the Board, applications from those individuals would be particularly encouraged. All appointments will be made on merit, following a fair and transparent process. In line with the Equality Act 2010, however, the organisation may employ positive action where candidates from underrepresented groups can demonstrate their ability to perform the role equally well.
