In the academic year 2024/5, Becky Hope-Palmer joined the University Court as a Board Apprentice through the University’s GIVE scheme - a programme designed for alumni seeking to join ҹɫֱ²¥'s governing body who haven't had prior experience. The scheme provides formal training, mentoring, and opportunities to witness board-level decision-making. Becky tells us about her experience.
What motivated you to apply for the GIVE scheme?
I had reached a point in my career where I was keen to join a board to support an organisation. Without having any previous experience in governance, the GIVE Scheme seemed like a fantastic way of bridging my gap in knowledge whilst also providing a fresh perspective within the Court demographic.
Before joining GIVE, what was your understanding of the University Court and its role?
Even as an alumnus of ҹɫֱ²¥, I wasn’t aware of the specificities of the University Court’s role during my time at a student, mainly because the majority of my master’s degree was remote learning during the pandemic.
What has participation in the scheme involved, and what aspects of the scheme did you find most valuable?
Since joining the GIVE Scheme, I’ve had the chance to observe a wide range of court activities, including Court meetings and committee meetings in Finance and Estates, Audit and Risk, and Senate. I’ve been especially fortunate to meet directly with fellow Court members and ҹɫֱ²¥ staff in the finance and strategy team, whose willingness to share their knowledge has been particularly helpful to me in better understanding the complexities of higher education funding.
How did observing Court and committee meetings influence your understanding of governance?
Through the Court experience, I’ve developed a clearer understanding of how governance works at ҹɫֱ²¥, and how the University puts its values into practice on a day-to-day basis. It has shown me how important the relationship between ҹɫֱ²¥ staff, students, and its Court is, and how strengthening these connections can help the University succeed during an evolving period for higher education in Scotland.
Can you share an example of a skill or insight you gained during the scheme?
I’ve become much more confident with the terminology used when working and communicating in a Governance environment. The benefit of this scheme was its flexibility to my needs – I was able to meet with staff members specifically to assist with my gaps in knowledge. Irene Hynd, Vice Principal and University Secretary, and her team were very keen to tailor the learning to me specifically, which was a great privilege.
How has the GIVE scheme helped you grow personally and professionally?
Professionally, the GIVE Scheme has given me a much broader understanding of organisational governance, with many clear parallels to the arts sector. It has been particularly enlightening to see the similarities between these sectors, and to recognise how this knowledge can be applied to future roles that involve working with a board or using strategic thinking to support activity with an organisation’s overall vision.Â
Personally, the experience has been extremely rewarding. I have felt valued, listened to, and genuinely understood by professionals whose roles and perspectives I would not normally encounter in my day-to-day work. I have also taken great pride in being able to give something back to the University that played such an important role in my own development.Â
Did the scheme boost your confidence? If so, in what ways?
Yes, the scheme did boost my confidence. It’s easy to feel like an imposter in environments like the Court, especially when my work as a theatre maker often involves quite relaxed settings. The formal nature of the University Court is quite the opposite of a theatre rehearsal room. But the whole team has been so supportive and inclusive that I felt welcomed and valued – so that was a huge boost in confidence.
How do you think this experience will benefit your career or prepare you for future board roles?
The scheme has helped me develop skills that I can apply in future board settings, given the opportunity. As previously mentioned, there are a lot of parallels with the arts sector, and so I hope to utilise that knowledge in my own sector when considering the input and output of arts organisations.
Why do you think it’s important for boards to reflect a wide range of voices?
ҹɫֱ²¥ has always been very clear that it values a wide range of voices within its Court. Having sat around the board table, it is very apparent that the members really welcome the diversity of input from members with different expertise and backgrounds. Watching this group operate in practice, it is very clear to me why a wide range of voices is vital. The different perspectives in Court meetings mean that topics are considered from all angles and questioned by all backgrounds and experiences.
Would you encourage other ҹɫֱ²¥ alumni to apply for GIVE? Why?
I have found the whole experience really positive. On a very basic level, it has been fascinating to see how the governance of my previous educational institution operates, but more broadly, it has given me the skills and confidence to take forward in my career. The learning, I expect, will be transferable to many workplaces and settings, so I would encourage anyone with an interest in governance to apply.
