Council 

Council is the governing body of Study Group in the UK (and those academic services provided in other countries but overseen from the UK) and is responsible for determining the educational character and mission of Study Group with accountability for financial, regulatory and legal matters. Chaired by Sir Keith Burnett, Council is made up of members of the Executive Committee, independent members from the higher education sector, a member of Study Group staff and a student. As Council is accountable for the academic services we provide it holds the executive, and in particular the Provost, to account to assure itself that Study Group continues to deliver high-quality education and ensure that our students are provided the opportunities they need to succeed. 

Purpose & Remit 

Council discharges legal and regulatory responsibilities as: 

  • the governing body of the provider which delivers education through International Study Centres (ISC) located in the UK; 
  • the responsible body for educational services provision (e.g. admissions services or campus provision) delivered either in partnership or directly by Study Group; and 
  • the body responsible for oversight of any Study Group entities operating outside of the UK as delegated to it by Study Group TopCo. 

The remit of Council comprises the following: 

  • discharging the responsibilities as a provider of education and educational services, and for the oversight of education delivered in partnership, in areas including but not limited to: organisational strategy; effective governance; academic quality and assurance; the student experience; the student experience; the staff experience; student welfare; ensuring the protection of enrolled learners; safeguarding and protection; and compliance with the regulatory requirements and conditions of registration; 
  • to refer matters to Senate, as appropriate, for guidance and advice in relation to those areas of responsibilities set out above and consider that advice; 
  • to delegate responsibility to Senate for matters of academic policy; 
  • to receive, review and consider quarterly reports from Senate in and to review, consider and approve the Senate’s Annual Monitoring Report; 
  • to engage with relevant statutory and regulatory bodies including, but not limited to, the Office for Students (OfS) in England, the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland; and 
  • to discharge its responsibilities and obligations as the governing body of Study Group Limited. Including, but not limited to, the responsibility for financial sustainability; raising issues of operational and contractual risk (by way of regular reporting to Study Group TopCo.); providing effective management and governance; and fulfilling statutory obligations in relation to areas such as health and safety, data protection, prevent/safeguarding, UKVI visa and immigration policy and academic regulatory issues.  

Council Terms of Reference 

Senate

Council (the governing body) has determined that Senate is the principal academic authority of Study Group with responsibility to oversee all aspects of academic activity across all activities within the United Kingdom (UK), and online. 

Purpose & Responsibilities 

As such, Senate is responsible on behalf of the governing body for the following: 

  • Determining Study Group’s overall scholarly and research strategy. This includes setting objectives for the organisation that ensure that strategic objectives are realised; 
  • The setting and maintenance of academic standards in line with Study Group expectations and any regulatory requirements relevant to the region(s) in which Study Group is operating; 
  • The assurance of the quality of any Study Group academic provision regardless of where any programme or service is being delivered including when that provision is partly being delivered by a partner institution; 
  • Ensuring that the non-academic student-facing services that support students to access, succeed in, and progress from their programmes is contributing effectively to Study Group meeting its strategic academic and research aims and objectives; 
  • Ensuring that Study Group programmes of study, their delivery, and the provision of student-facing services and information meet all applicable regulatory requirements; and 
  • The identification and management of areas of potential risk in connection to those areas within its remit. This includes areas of potential risk in relation to academic provision and the student experience. 

Senate Terms of Reference