The Academic Governance Review is an in-depth review of Warwick's academic committee structure, from department and faculty level all the way through to Senate. It considers the purpose, composition, and structure of committees, to ensure that our academic governance system is robust, inclusive and effective.

The Review aims to ensure that academic governance at Warwick is conducted in an inclusive, values-driven and evidence-based way. In practice, this will mean:

• A clear academic committee structure
• A shared understanding of the routes for consideration and decision-making of proposals
• Improved communication of the processes, purpose and outputs of committees
• A clear picture of how and where the staff and student community engage with and contribute to academic governance
• Greater agility and improved timeliness in decision-making, through more effective ways of working
• Committee membership with diversity of thought that represents the needs of our diverse community
• Inclusive and effective ways of working within and around committees
• Improved engagement with the student voice through the decision-making process
• Improved engagement and clarity in faculty and department-level interaction

Stage One of the Review

The first stage of the review is now completed. Stage 1 comprised an internal review including the voices of those currently involved in committees and also used focus groups, interviews and workshops with students, campus trade unions, department and faculty colleagues.

In addition to the internal review, we contracted Advance HE to provide an expert independent view by undertaking an external review of the Senate. Advance HELink opens in a new window is an independent, member-led charity, specialising in higher education; they support institutions globally to improve the higher education sector for all, including in the specialist domains of governance and equality, diversity, and inclusion. Advance HE’s review brings a sector-wide perspective, benchmarking against best practice and external requirements to facilitate internal reflections at Warwick.

Led by the Academic Governance Senate Working Group, the findings of the first stage of this review are drawn together into a Green Paper. This is a consultation paper that presents the findings of the review so far and invites discussion on these initial findings and our early thinking about next steps. The Green Paper was considered and positively received by the Senate on 24 January 2024.

The Green Paper can be read in full here.Link opens in a new window

The AdvanceHE Academic Governance Effectiveness Review Final Report can be read in full here.Link opens in a new window

Consultation stage

Following consideration by the Senate, the Green Paper can now be shared with the wider University community for discussion, challenge and shaping through Term 2 of 2023/24. Each section of this Green Paper includes consultation questions on which we would especially welcome feedback. However, wider, or more general observations are also welcome.

As well as broad discussions of the paper, interviews and focus groups involving specific stakeholder groups will be used through Term 2, to test and refine specific proposals with the aim of ensuring that a diverse range of views are heard.

Further information about the Green Paper consultation can be found here.

Feedback on the Green Paper will be explored by the Senate Working Group to inform a revised set of proposals (a White Paper). The White Paper will incorporate more detail on the implementation of the proposals and will again be consulted on ahead of Senate being invited to approve the final set of proposals of the review at its meeting in April 2024.

More information about the Review and what it will involve, including key milestones coming up for the project, are available on the Academic Governance Review webpages.