61 Virtual Brochure – February 2024 The OfS’ has written about the bureaucracy associated with demonstrating compliance, observing that placing reliance on compliance or assurance maps provides a false sense of security17 . However, if it is effectively designed and implemented as part of an integrated approach to governance, a compliance or assurance map is a useful tool for senior managers and governors. To maximise its value – and indeed to scrutinise the evidence and challenge institutional leadership effectively - independent and student governors are likely to need briefing and support to understand the regulatory framework, key datasets, academic governance, and how assurance is provided. The changing role of the audit committee As set out in CUC guidance, the role of the audit committee is “to advise and assist the governing body in respect of the entire assurance and control environment of the HE provider.18 ” In response to the demands of the conditions of registration, audit committees are becoming more proactive in providing assurance to the governing body on compliance in relation to: individual conditions of registration; academic governance; and overall compliance with the conditions. In doing so, they are increasingly drawing upon reports from internal committees and working groups, including data and insight on the performance of the institution, and the findings from internal audits and external reviews. For example, most 17 https://wonkhe.com/blogs/reducing-burden-makes-for-good-governance/ audit committees consider the annual report on quality assurance from the senate or academic board before it goes to the governing body and may hold a specific meeting to consider academic governance assurance. In order to fulfil their responsibilities, audit committee members, including co-opted members, will need to be confident in their understanding of academic governance and process alongside core datasets. Ensuring that there is alignment between the consideration of the annual report on OfS’ compliance, the annual report and accounts, annual reports / opinions from the internal and external auditors, and a review of strategic risks is a helpful way to enable the audit committee to take a rounded view of assurance activities in its own annual report to the governing body. We note too, the increasing use of academic risk registers by senate and academic board sub-committees and would encourage their use to inform the wider picture of strategic risk, and the provision of assurance around academic governance. 18 https://www.universitychairs.ac.uk/wp-content/files/2020/06/CUC-HEAudit-Committees-Code-of-Practice-doc-FINAL-260520.pdf
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