Governance

The Governing Body, referred to in the College as Governors, is collectively responsible for overseeing Birkbeck’s activities. The Charter invests in Governors the authority to exercise the powers of the College, its management and control and the administration of its property and income.

The Governing Body determines Birkbeck’s future direction and promotes the fulfilment of the College’s mission, the advancement of its values and the potential of all its learners. The Governing Body is responsible for ensuring compliance with the College’s constitutional and regulatory framework and takes all final decisions on strategic matters and issues of fundamental concern to the College. 

It also regulates the College’s framework of governance and takes the lead in ensuring its efficacy, looking to Academic Board to act similarly in respect of academic governance and seeking to have in place arrangements that are coherent, internally consistent, proportionate to risks and opportunities and which support the Governing Body and the Academic Board in their roles, in particular through:

• retaining a focus on the College’s objects and mission and the outcomes for stakeholders of decisions and actions
• ensuring that clear definitions of the roles and responsibilities of Committees and of College officers are in place and are adhered to
• promoting mechanisms for transparent and informed decision making and for risk management
• establishing and using clear and operable lines of accountability
• involving and engaging stakeholders, who may include students, staff, employers, communities, other educational organisations; and local and national bodies and authorities
• fostering in Governors and all committee members an appropriate range of skills and knowledge, to include planning for succession in membership

Click here to see the annual calendar of committee meetings.

If you would like a copy of our Charter Statutes and Standing Orders of the Governors, either download a copy  or email External Relations.