10.—(1) Each college shall have an academic council appointed by the governing body to assist it in the planning, co-ordination, development and overseeing of the educational work of the college and to protect, maintain and develop the academic standards of the courses and the activities of the college.

(2) (a) Each governing body may by regulations made under this section provide for the membership and terms of office of the academic council.

(b) The majority of members shall be holders of academic appointments within the college and at least one shall be a registered student of the college.

(c) The members appointed to the academic council shall hold office for a period of three years and shall be eligible for reappointment.

(3) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1) the academic council shall have the following particular functions—

(a) to design, develop and assist in implementing courses of study F34[…] consistent with the functions of the college;

(b) to make recommendations to the governing body for the establishment of appropriate structures to implement the courses of study referred to at paragraph (a) of this subsection;

(c) to make recommendations to the governing body on programmes for research and development work;

(d) to make recommendations to the governing body for the selection, admission, retention and exclusion of students;

(e) be responsible, subject to the approval of the governing body, for making the academic regulations of the college;

(f) to propose to the governing body, subject to the requirements of the National Council for Educational Awards or any university or other authority to which section 5 (1) (b) applies, the form of regulations to be made by the governing body for the conduct of examinations and for the evaluation of academic progress;

(g) to make recommendations to the governing body for the award of scholarships, prizes or other awards;

(h) to make general arrangements for tutorial or other academic counselling;

(i) to exercise any other functions, consistent with this Act, which may be delegated to it by the governing body;

(j) to assist in implementing any regulations which may be made by the governing body concerning any of the matters aforesaid.

(4) The academic council, with the approval of the governing body, may—

(a) establish such and so many committees, consisting either wholly or partly of persons who are not members of the college, as it thinks proper to assist the academic council in the performance of its functions under this Act, and

(b) determine, subject to the provisions of this Act, the functions of any committee established under paragraph (a) of this subsection.

(5) The acts of a committee established under subsection (4) (a) shall be subject to confirmation by the governing body unless the governing body dispenses with the necessity for such confirmation.

(6) Subject to the provisions of this Act and to the directions of the governing body, the academic council may regulate its own procedure.