ADMINISTRATIVE HISTORY: Established by a resolution of Council on 26 January, 1883, which adopted the motion of Professor Lamb that all present committees of Council with the exception of the Finance Committee and the Building Committee be dissolved and their work transferred to an Education Committee.

The ten members of the first Education Committee were elected by Council from its membership on February 23, 1883, and it became, with the Finance Committee, one of two standing committees of Council and was responsible for all matters relating to the education al work of the University.

Many of the previous committees of Council were retained but as Special Committees of the Education Committee. Subsequently, between 1955 and 1975, a number of formal sub-committees of the Education Committee were established, including the Standing Sub-Committee (1955), Study Leave Committee (1963), Allocations Committee (1963), Staff Development Committee (1963), Equipment Committee (1963), Committee of Deans (1955), Planning Committee (1972) and Scholarships Committee (1962).

In July 1975, the Education Committee approved a new committee structure establishing five Ways and Means Committees:
- Grounds, Buildings and Accommodation Committee
- Services Staffing Committee
- Research and Publications Committee
- Departmental Staffing Committee
- Equipment and Maintenance Committee

A Co-ordinating Committee was also established to co-ordinate their work. The Ways and Means Committees were constituted as Committees of Education Committee, but were to report through the Co-ordinating Committee.

Following the adoption by Council in May, 1980 of the recommendations of the Report of the Committee of Administrative Review, all the work of these committees and the earlier standing sub-committees was transferred to a new Executive Committee. The exception was the Planning Committee which was abolished and the responsibility for planning was devolved upon the Vice-Chancellor and Council.

For many years the Education Committee operated in effect as a professorial board, but the adoption by the University from 1973 of a system of departmental government substantially altered the complexion of the Committee as the professorial heads of departments were replaced by elected Chairmen.