Question reference: S5W-27193
- Asked by: Sandra White, MSP for Glasgow Kelvin, Scottish National Party
- Date lodged: 29 January 2020
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Current status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 26 February 2020
Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it last met the board of the Glasgow School of Art to discuss the progress being made in dealing with the impact of the fire on 15 June 2018; how often the board provides it with updates, and what the latest position is.
Answer
As you will be aware, Higher Education Institutions are autonomous institutions, with responsibility for strategic and operational matters. As such they are accountable to their own Court and are not required to report to the Scottish Government. I did, however, meet with the Chair and Principal of the Glasgow School of Art (GSA) on 29 October 2019.
The Scottish Funding Council (SFC) has a role in providing assurance that there is suitable provision in relation to the governance and management of Higher Education Institutions. The SFC last met with GSA’s senior management team on 10 December 2019.
At my meeting on 29 October I was pleased to note GSA’s clear focus on planning for the future, in particular teaching provision and student and staff well-being. There was a recognition that building a stronger, more consultative relationship with the local community would be a key factor in their success.