SCOTS universities have vowed to have at least 40% female members within their governing bodies.

The chairmen and women at 18 institutions, including Glasgow University, have agreed to aim for a 40:40:20 target - at least 40% men and women, and 20% either gender.

The vow applies to independent members of the university, who make up the majority of their governing body's membership.

Other members are elected by university staff, students and alumni.

Universities Scotland said it would work towards implementing the target for all members if staff and students made a similar commitment for their chosen candidates.

David Ross, chairman of the committee of Scottish chairs and of the University of Glasgow's governing body, said: "Our higher education sector thrives on diversity, whether that is diversity of opinion and perspective or the diversity of the 18 higher education institutions themselves, so we must do everything we reasonably can to ensure that our governing bodies - the place where strategic decisions are made - reflect and encourage diversity amongst their membership.

"This commitment can only extend as far as independent members of the governing body because staff and student stakeholders rightly have the freedom to elect their own candidates.

"We ask the students and staff in our institutions to consider making a similar commitment."

Roseanna Cunningham, Fair Work, Skills and Training Secretary welcomed the move and said: "We welcome the commitment of Scottish universities to ensure at least a 40:40 gender split on their boards, which is a significant step towards our goal of achieving a 50:50 gender split on public, private and third-sector boards by 2020.

"A fair gender balance on boards leads to better decisionmaking and stronger businesses, and ties in with our commitment to promoting equality and social justice.

"It is great to see universities take the lead on this issue and we would encourage other organisations to follow their example."

Currently women make up less than one third (32%) of all independent members of the governing bodies across the 18 universities involved.