S2 Ep2: Episode 2: From HEFCE heaven to good governance (and bidets)

The latest guest on University Registrars (and others) Talking About Stuff is John Rushforth who is Executive Secretary of the Committee of University Chairs (CUC) as well as having a number of other sector roles too. John has been around for quite a few years now and, before he joined the newly formed HEFCE, his early work was with the Audit Commission where he experienced the challenging days of auditing Liverpool City Council in the turbulent 1980s.

His memories of HEFCE are strongly positive and he feels the agency did a difficult job well and was never really captured by the sector as has been the more recent criticism. From HEFCE, John moved to the University of the West of England before eventually joining CUC as part of a portfolio of not really retirement roles.

CUC itself is a small membership organisation which, along with other sector bodies, plays an important part in the under-recognised area of university governance.  John draws an interesting comparison between governing bodies and bidets before stressing the vital role that chairs play in public advocacy for the value of higher education.

Beyond the reputational, regulatory and financial challenges faced by the sector John notes the additional burden all of this places on unpaid volunteers on governing bodies. Finally he recounts some of the difficulties he has experienced with some of the more exotic meals he has enjoyed in his various sector roles. It's a really enjoyable discussion with one of the most respected and senior managers in the sector.