Professional Skills
How to be effective on a governing body: in 10 steps
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It can be a daunting experience starting out as a new member on a governing body, from the minute you receive documents through your door to when you attend your first meeting. This course will equip you with the skills to feel confident in asking questions, and enable you to understand the relevant papers (i.e. agenda, minutes etc), as well as financial matters.
The course will be of benefit to:
- those just starting out as a new member on a board (school/college governors, health trust board members) particularly those with little experience of such matters.
- members of voluntary sector management committees.
| About this course: | |
|---|---|
| Course code | GB064 |
| Credit points | This is a non-credit bearing course. |
Register for the course
This course is available for study in the countries shown. Fees may vary by country.
What you will study
This course is aimed at those who are new to their position as a member of a governing body. You can study this course with little or no previous experience of being a member of a governing body or to brush up on your skills. The course is designed to lead you through a meeting of a governing body, allowing you to see all aspects of business conducted and to be able to meet all the learning outcomes of the course. This is done via an interactive case study comprising audio, visual and software driven materials. In addition, you are also encouraged to participate in a course forum to share your own and benefit from others experiences.
The indicative outline below takes you through the governance process step-by-step. Each step should take, on average, two hours to complete and contributes to an organisation-based activity. This activity will enable you to apply what you learn in the course to your own. The illustrative case study will follow a new lay member of a public sector organisation. The case study will take the learner through 10 steps to assist them in their new role.
After studying this course you should be able to:
- understand the rules of a meeting
- look at a finance report and pick out the main items
- understand the statutory obligations on Board members
- understand the importance of policy formation
- describe how decisions are made.
The strong link between course learning and your organisational practice creates relevant, enduring and transferable outcomes. The course will take 30 hours to study and includes web text, video content, questions and activities. The course contains a series of bite-size chunks each devoted to handling situations as they arise on a governing body. Register online today and start tomorrow – no need to wait!
The course features the distinctive strengths of The Open University (OU) from its years of expertise in work-based learning:
- The convenience of accessing its clearly presented and sequenced materials, activities and support whenever suits you and wherever you have access to the dedicated website – if you prefer, you can print key materials to work on them offline.
- The support of an expert learning adviser who can clarify study materials, answer questions and help you relate the course to your specific needs.
- An organisation-based activity helping you to connect the course to your individual and organisational context and needs. This is built up from short activities during the course, leading to a Personal Development Plan. At the end of the course you send this to the learning adviser, who provides personal feedback.
- Certification of completion from the OU for those who complete the course. You can use this to demonstrate your Continuing Professional Development (CPD) activity to your employer and/or professional body. (N.B. The course does not carry academic credit points.)
Entry
Although there are no formal academic requirements to study any of our CPD courses, you are expected to have some experience in the field and the course assumes a familiarity with the subject.
For each course you can register and begin at any time during the life of the course. You can study at your own pace and submit your work-based activity at any date before the final submission date for the course. Information about the final submission date is available when you register for the course.
If you have a disability or additional requirement
The study materials are delivered wholly online. Learners who use screen readers or who cannot use a mouse will not be able to access some materials or some activities without assistance. Written transcripts of the audio interviews are available on the website. If you are a new learner with the OU, make sure that you have our publication Meeting Your Needs.
Study materials
What's included
All learning materials, exercises, study support and the work-based activity are delivered entirely online.
Computing requirements
This course includes online computer activities – you can access these using a web browser that can play Flash and Shockwave.
You will need internet access and a computer. If you have purchased a new computer since 2005 it should meet your course computing requirements. Check our Technical Requirements section if your computer is older than this or is otherwise unusual.
Learner support
Expert, confidential learner support is available when you need it from a learning adviser, who will respond to you direct within 24 hours. Other support is available via the GB064 forum, library, StudentHome website and computing helpdesk.
Work-based activity
The organisation-based activity for this course has been designed as an integrated ongoing activity which you submit at the end of your study. It will allow you to reflect on your learning and how to use it in your work.
Professional recognition
Successful completion of the course enables us to recognise your achievement of the course learning by issuing an OU certificate that you can use to document your commitment to continuing professional development in your personal portfolio, or to provide evidence to employers or professional body.
Students also studied
Students who studied this course also studied at some time:
| About this course: | |
|---|---|
| Course code | GB064 |
| Credit points | This is a non-credit bearing course. |
Study explained
- Special fee arrangements
- - the OU has relationships with many professional bodies, and as part of those relationships members may be entitled to special fee arrangements.
- Study explained
- - all you need to know about distance learning with the OU.
Your questions
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Or contact an adviser in our Student Registration & Enquiry Service Email or call +44(0) 845 300 60 90+44(0) 845 366 60 35
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