How the University works

Syndicates and Boards

Syndicates or Boards of Management are sometimes established as organisational units when the subject has the clear need for support from a number of existing Faculties within the University. For example, Chemical Engineering (managed by a Syndicate) draws its undergraduates from either the Natural Sciences or from Engineering; Land Economy (managed by a Board) draws its undergraduates from Law, Economics and Politics, Geography, and a few from the Natural Sciences. A more recent innovation in the University is the establishment of Centres of Studies, such as the Centre for South Asian Studies. These are all controlled by Committees of Management which consist of teaching officers drawn from the Faculties with a main interest in these areas.

The term 'Syndicate' is also used in Cambridge to describe an important statutory committee which manages a part of the University's activities, such as the Library Syndicate, the Fitzwilliam Museum Syndicate, the Careers Service Syndicate, the Sports Syndicate, the Press Syndicate and the Local Examinations Syndicate.

Occasional syndicates are also appointed by the Regent House from time to time to consider and report on specific current issues.

Another institution with important academic responsibilities is the Institute of Continuing Education, based at Madingley Hall.

There is no significant difference between a Board and a Syndicate, the choice of title being mainly a matter of historical accident.

The title of this document is: University of Cambridge: how the University works
URL: http://www.cam.ac.uk/univ/works/syndicate.html

Last updated: 16/02/2011