Foundations of University Governance Course

The University Chancellors Council has continued to work with the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD) to develop a course that specialises in Foundational University Governance: to support and build best practice in governance across the sector.

About the Course

Who is it for?

The course will be highly relevant to university governing body members - whether you have previously done an AICD or alternative directors’ course or not.

The course is further recommended for the following roles in Australian universities:

  • Members of the university governing body (whether Council or Ministerially appointed)

  • Chairs of governing body committees

  • Chairs of academic governing bodies

  • Elected members of governing bodies

  • University secretaries

  • Senior governance staff members of the university - including the university’s senior management

What does it cover?

The course covers the fundamentals in university governance, including:

  • An introduction to governance in Australian universities

  • The role of the governing body

  • The role of the governing body committees

  • The role of the academic governing body

  • An introduction to university financial statements

  • An introduction to assessing financial performance

  • Identifying and managing risk

  • The relationship between the governing body, the governing body committees, the academic governing body, the Chancellor, the Vice-Chancellor, and university senior management

The Foundations of University Governance course has been rewritten in 2025 in order to reflect the changing needs of the Australian university governance landscape, with inclusion of the Expert Council Principles of University Governance.

How does it run?

1. In-person delivery

The course is run in multiple locations throughout the year. The in-person session runs across 3 consecutive days. In person courses run with a maximum of 25 participants.

2. Online delivery

In 2026, the UCC is delighted to announce a new format to the AICD Foundations of University Governance Course.

The online delivery of the course will utilise Zoom video conferencing software. The online courses will require that every participant has a working computer, tablet, and both camera and headset with microphone access, in order to contribute to the discussions. Access to reliable internet is also required.

The online sessions are password protected, and participants will be provided with the password alongside their registration and session link.

To manage participant and facilitator fatigue, the online component will be run across 3-days on 3-consecutive weeks (1-day per week).

Online courses run with a maximum of 20 participants.

2026 Course Dates

Online delivery

  • Commencing the week beginning 23 March (one day per week)

  • Additional potential for second half of the year (pending preferences from universities)

In-person delivery

  • SYDNEY | Monday 30 March to Wednesday 1 April

  • MELBOURNE | Wednesday 8 to Friday 10 April

  • BRISBANE | Monday 29 June to Wednesday 1 July

Additional options

Should the proposed options for online and in-person sessions not be suited to you and your team, please reach out ASAP to the UCC Secretariat to review whether alternatives can be arranged. Should we have enough interest and need in the sector, additional sessions can be coordinated with AICD.

Registering to attend

Those who have completed an expression of interest should refer to the most recent email circulated by the UCC to register. If you require support or have any concerns, please reach out to secretariat@ucc.edu.au.