College & university governance
Financial statements 2010-11
- FE Financial statements and Unit Cost template 2010-11 [XLS]
- FE Financial statements and unit cost guidance 2010-11 [PDF]
- FE document checklist 2010-11 [PDF]
- FE Statement of assurance on governing body activity [PDF]
- HE Financial statements template 2010-11 [XLS]
- HE Financial statements guidance 2010-11 [PDF]
- HE document checklist 2010-11 [PDF]
Accounts direction
- Accounts direction for Scotland's colleges and universities [PDF]
- Accounts direction - detailed guidance notes for 2010-11 financial statements [PDF]
- Mortality tables in Excel or PDF format (Annex G to Accounts direction - detailed guidance notes for 2010-11 financial statements)
Other guidance notes
- HE - Strategic Plan Forecast Guidance 2011 [PDF]
- HE - Strategic Plan Forecast template 2011 [XLS]
- Early Retirement Provision Spreadsheet for 2011 [XLS]
- Early retirement provisions suggested rate of interest calculation for 31 July 2011
- The Potential Impact of IFRS on colleges and universities [PDF]
Equalities
In 2006 we published a summary of good practice reference points on equalities. It is particularly designed for use by clerks and secretaries to governing bodies, but is of wider interest too.
- Addressing Equality Legislation in Colleges and Universities: A Good Practice Guide (Circular SFC/07/2006: see SFC archive)
- Good Practice Guide to Addressing Equality Legislation in Colleges and Universities [PDF]
- Good Practice Guide Annex of Resources [PDF]
Governance
The Financial memorandum sets out the overall relationship between SFC and institutions it funds, including key requirements that the SFC, governing bodies and principals of institutions must adhere to.
- Financial memorandum
- Financial memorandum - Mandatory requirements for Scotland's colleges and universities
Human resource management
SFC's focus concerning human resource management (HRM) in institutions is to understand their approaches to HRM, monitor relevant responses to Scottish Government and Council policy, and support the adoption and enhancement of good practice. SFC has no focus in industrial relations issues between institutions and the staff they employ.
In 2008 we undertook a comparison of HRM in the college and university sectors within the contexts and approaches of human resources in other sectors of the economy. This project focused on comparisons at a sector level rather than the institutional level. Intended outcomes included:
- improved understanding of HRM; and
- an opportunity for SFC and institutional governing bodies to reflect on the significance of comparison for supporting continuous improvement.
SFC commissioned 4-Consulting Limited to undertake the comparison project, which produced the report Comparisons of Human Resource Management [PDF], formally launched in 2009.
Institutional strategic planning information
With exceptions in a few areas, SFC funded institutions are free to set the format, content and duration of their strategic planning information, although they must share key documents with us. The circular letter linked to below describes the strategic planning information institutions should send us.
- Institutional strategic planning in 2006-07 and in future (Circular SFC/04/2006: see SFC archive)
Monitoring, evaluation and accountability
In June 2008, SFC considered proposals to streamline its monitoring, evaluation and accountability arrangements and agreed to take forward modifications to this activity in tandem with changes resulting from the Joint Future Thinking Taskforce on Universities New Horizons report.
MEA consultation responses includes responses to the consultation carried out in the summer of 2007.
Strategic dialogue meetings with individual institutions
The aims of these strategic dialogue meetings (SDMs) are:
- to provide a better appreciation of how each institution contributes and might contribute to the delivery of the Scottish Government's and the Council's strategies and policies; and
- to strengthen relationships between SFC and the governing bodies and senior management teams of institutions.
For further information please contact Nick Stansfeld, Group Co-ordinator of Learning, Governance and Sustainability, Tel: 0131 313 6539, email: nstansfeld@sfc.ac.uk.