Fears over Govt's uni council plans

There are fears a Government plan to change the way universities are run will result in students and the local community having less of a say.

The Tertiary Education Union (TEU) believes the Government will soon announce plans to ''wrest control of university councils into the hands of its own ministerial appointees''.

TEU national secretary Sharn Riggs said the changes would likely mirror those previously made to polytechnic councils.

The reforms to polytechnic councils ended mandatory student membership, reduced the number sitting on councils to eight from about 18 and gave more power to Tertiary Education Minister Steven Joyce when it came to appointing members.

She feared the changes to university councils - as they had with polytechnics - would mean reduced community, staff and student representation.

''It's just another way of shutting down the community ownership of tertiary institutions.''

Both Ms Riggs and Otago University Students' Association president Francisco Hernandez did not believe the Government would get rid of student representation altogether, but were concerned the number of students on councils would be reduced.

Mr Hernandez, who is also a member of the University of Otago's council, said the Government's moves were worrying and believed it would be a step backwards if student and community representation was reduced.

Having two student members on the council meant he was not the ''lone student voice'' and there were certain motions which could not be moved if there was only one student member, he said.

Having two members also gave students more coverage on the various council subcommittees.

A spokesman for Mr Joyce said any announcement on the changes was ''still weeks away''.

The spokesman previously said Mr Joyce had ''made no secret of his preference for smaller councils with appointments made on the basis of skills and experience''.

''This is in line with international best practice and the principles of good governance.''

vaughan.elder@odt.co.nz

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