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Understanding practices of UK college governing: Rethinking strategy and accountability

James, David, Garner, Steve and Husband, Gary (2021) Understanding practices of UK college governing: Rethinking strategy and accountability. Educational Management Administration & Leadership. p. 174114322110536. ISSN 1741-1432

Item Type: Article

Abstract

College governing boards are widely held to be the keystone of institutional strategy and the prime locus of support, challenge and accountability in respect of the actions of the senior Executive. Whilst there are many normative prescriptions about the conditions and arrangements required for effective college governance, relatively little is known about how and to what extent the practices of boards reflect or realise these prescriptions. This paper draws upon a unique research study of eight further education colleges across the four nations of the UK. Following Chia and MacKay and Hendry et al., our ‘strategy as practice’ approach gives primacy to emergence and immanence through board practices. Video and observational data, supplemented by some interview and documentary data are used to develop an understanding of governing practices. Our analysis suggests that current normative prescriptions lack the conceptual sophistication required to support governing as it really happens. We offer a reconceptualisation of both strategy and accountability suggesting that the latter includes lateral, inward- and outward-facing functions that make conflicting demands on governors. We argue that these distinctions are vital in enabling further positive development of governing in the college sector.

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Depositing User: Gary Husband

Identifiers

Item ID: 15152
Identification Number: https://doi.org/10.1177/17411432211053691
ISSN: 1741-1432
URI: http://sure.sunderland.ac.uk/id/eprint/15152
Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/17411432211053691

Users with ORCIDS

ORCID for Gary Husband: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-6673-1223

Catalogue record

Date Deposited: 17 Oct 2022 12:23
Last Modified: 14 Jun 2024 12:48

Contributors

Author: Gary Husband ORCID iD
Author: David James
Author: Steve Garner

University Divisions

Faculty of Education and Society

Subjects

Education > Educational Research
Education > Further Education
Education

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