Just as we moved into lockdown in 2020 I wrote:

Governance in learning is about protection, whether that be integrity of the offer, content, or activity.
Governance in learning is about oversight, whether that be what other people are doing for you, costs, or appropriateness.
Governance is learning is about equity and inclusiveness, whether that be opening opportunity, or reaching down to help those who have been left behind.
Governance in learning is not about control.

Andrew Jacobs

As we’ve moved into different working models, the approach to governance of learning and development has shifted. In the past, it was the realm of the HR and People leads, CLOs and learning directors. In the new ways of working it may now sit with anyone from the CEO to the L&D officer.

The approach which we should now adopt for governance is a grip held lightly. The critical friend is a shift; if you’re an L&D lead, adopting this approach is a move away from previous content-led delivery approaches and moves much more into framing support and creating space for people to exercise their own rules as to what’s allowed..

The last point from my earlier post, however, remains as strong as before.

Governance is not about control.