Scotland's Colleges Chairs' Congress

Scotland’s Colleges Chairs’ Congress is the representative body for the Chairs of Scotland’s colleges. It is a unified body which encompasses all member colleges of Scotland’s Colleges. As such it reflects the diversity of the Scottish college sector. The Chairs’ Congress, therefore, seeks to address generic, rather than specific issues. It engages with a wide range of stakeholders, having, in particular, a close relationship with Scotland’s Colleges Principals’ Convention.

Action Plan 2010-2012

On 25 January 2010, the Chairs' Congress of Scotland's Colleges agreed goals to guide the work of the Congress over the next three years. The goals are:

1. To promote the reputation and status of Scotland's college sector.
2. To secure sustainable funding streams for Scottish colleges to enable them to serve the ambitions of Scotland's learners and the demands of Scotland's employers.
3. To ensure that resources are allocated to Scottish colleges according to agreed criteria by processes that are transparent and fair.
4. To make sure all Scottish colleges operate to the highest standards of governance.
5. To work with the Scottish Government and its agencies advocating a ‘light touch' approach to regulation of Scottish colleges.

The Chairs' Congress Action Plan 2010-12 (104.47 kB) details the actions and objectives for the three years ahead.  Also view the Chairs' Congress Remit (116.6 kB).

The Acting Chair of Chairs' Congress

John Russell FRSGS, BSc

John has been Chairman of North Glasgow College since January 2009, having been a member of the Board for five years prior to this. During his time as an ordinary member he was a member of the College’s Audit, Finance and HR committees. He was the prime mover in the establishment of the Board’s Learning and Teaching Committee. He was a Board member and member of the Audit Committee which oversaw the building of the new £42 million North Glasgow College which opened in December 2008.

He was elected to Scotland’s College’s Board in 27 May 2009 and Chairs its Audit Committee. He was elected as Vice-Chair of the Chairs’ Congress in October 2010.

John retired from BBC Scotland, where he was Senior Education Officer/Secretary Educational Broadcasting Council for Scotland, in September 2005. He carried on his interest and commitment to governance from BBC when he became Managing Director of HOPE (a prison visiting charity), until he became Chair of North Glasgow College. He was previously involved in learning as a Principal Teacher Guidance and Assistant Headteacher in Secondary Schools and his immediate post-university career was in marketing with Procter and Gamble(UK).

Currently, as well as his activities in North Glasgow College and Scotland’s Colleges, he is a Chaplain in St Andrew’s and St Bride’s Secondary, East Kilbride. He lives in East Kilbride with his wife, Anne – their two sons, Mark and Paul, having long-since flown the nest!

Emma Beeby

Tel: 01786 892104

E-mail Emma Beeby