Introduction to Governance at Leeds Met

Leeds Metropolitan University is a higher education corporation, established under the Education Reform Act 1988.  It was granted university status following the Further and Higher Education Act 1992.  The University's governing documents - the Instrument and Articles of Government - are subject to Privy Council approval.

The University is governed by a Board of Governors which includes representatives of the staff and students and a majority of lay members, external to the University.  The Board of Governors has a number of standing committees to oversee particular areas of business and to ensure effective dialogue with the Academic Board.

The Academic Board is the University's supreme academic authority.  Subject to the Board of Governors' responsibility for determining the educational character of the University, the Academic Board has oversight of academic activities, including: assessment, learning and teaching; and research and scholarly activity.

Like the Board of Governors, the Academic Board delegates many of its functions to standing committees.  The Faculty Boards are responsible to the Academic Board for overseeing academic activities in each faculty.

The University has a number of executive groups which are responsible for specific areas of management and operational oversight.

Governance and Legal Affairs 

The Governance and Legal Affairs team are responsible to the Registrar and Secretary for managing the operation of the University's governance structures and for embedding the principles of good governance across the institution. 

The team provides legal advice, guidance and support to the University on all branches of English law and has responsibility for drafting, administering and reviewing the University's general and student regulations. 

The team also supports the University's executive bodies and subsidiary companies and is responsible for managing the University's relationship with the Students' Union.