A board of trustees is fundamental to the effective governance of any higher education institution. Its core purpose is to provide strategic direction, oversight, and accountability, ensuring the organisation fulfils its mission and operates in the best interests of its stakeholders—including students, staff, and the wider community.
With the increasing scrutiny from the Office for Students (OfS), boards must demonstrate robust compliance with regulatory requirements. The OfS expects boards to be clear about their responsibilities, ensure governance structures are fit for purpose, and evidence that trustees are both competent and committed to upholding the highest standards. This makes the recruitment of trustees with the right skills, experience, and values more important than ever.
This Guide includes a step by step process to help build effective, diverse, and strategically aligned boards. The Skills Matrix will support identifying key areas required for board members in independent HE institutions. Each skill area includes a description and guidance on the expected distribution across board membership.
Click here to download the free Guide.
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