Glasgow School of Art governance review

Governance review, followed by board assessment activities, including a 360-degree appraisal

Founded in 1845, Glasgow School of Art is a leading specialist arts higher education institution based in Glasgow, Scotland. Although small in size, the school has significant national importance and an international reputation for its teaching, research and innovation and was ranked third in the UK and twelfth in the world for arts and design in the latest QS World University Rankings.

GSA makes a significant contribution to Scotland’s higher education sector and more broadly to Scotland’s economy, culture and soft power. Central to this contribution are its students and staff. Nearly 60% of GSA graduates remain in the city, working within the creative and cultural industries or wider economy.

GGI was appointed in 2023 to undertake a developmental governance review against the Scottish Code of Good Higher Education Governance, with particular focus on the board of governors and its supporting committees. The review involved:

• extensive document review, including board and committee papers and terms of reference, previous internal and external effectiveness reviews, structure charts and staff survey results, amongst others
• contextual research
• more than 35 interviews with internal and external stakeholders
• surveys of the board members and academic council members
• observation of governance in action, through several meeting observations
• benchmarking and research on learning relevant to the review and client

The report was structured around six high-impact, forward-looking improvement areas, encouraging the institution to focus on key reforms that would help to take the board and its supporting governance towards being a high-performing board.

The school’s leadership were clear that they wanted recommendations of practical value and guided by GGI’s knowledge of governance principles and experience of what works well across sectors and settings.

Central to the review is the university’s context. It is operating in a high-risk and complex higher education landscape in the UK. The recent history of the school had been challenging, with two successive fires to the school’s iconic Mackintosh building, among other factors. All of which has heightened regulatory and other external scrutiny from stakeholders.

The report was submitted following findings testing activities with key individuals.

The recommendations have been taken forward, and GSA commissioned GGI to undertaken further programmes of work to help embed some of the changes, including a 360-degree appraisal of the board of governors.

Reference: Penny MacBeth, Director and Chief Executive