University chairs could face elections before being appointed as part of new Scottish Government proposals on higher education.

Ministers want the chair of university courts - the governing bodies of the institutions - to be voted in by a "balanced and representative electorate" of "appropriate persons".

The Scottish Government plans to introduce new legislation next year which is aimed at updating how universities are governed.

But while ministers back the idea of making it compulsory for two-fifths of representatives on university boards to be women, Holyrood does not currently have the power to legislate for this.

Education Secretary Mike Russell said: "I would like to see a 40% female membership on higher education boards, and the Scottish Parliament obtaining the necessary powers to consider legislating for that."

The plans for a "more transparent process" for appointing people to chair university courts would involve a job description, with candidates interviewed and shortlisted before a ballot to determine who should have the role.

Chairs should be "elected by appropriate persons from within the university and potentially representatives of external stakeholders", the Scottish Government said, adding that "in order to reflect the democratic ideal of the sector, votes would be weighted to ensure that staff and students are effectively represented in the election process".

The Scottish Government is also proposing the university governing bodies should include students, a minimum of two directly-elected staff members and two former students of the institution.

A stronger definition of academic freedom, aimed at encouraging academics to put forward "new and innovative ideas without feeling constrained by popular opinion", could also be included in the legislation along with greater clarification of the role of university principals to make clear they should act as a chief executive officer and take on the" leadership, administration and management of the institution".

Meanwhile, a new Scottish-based committee could be set up to replace the Privy Council - a formal body of advisers to the Queen - when considering changes to universities' governance arrangements.

Speaking as a consultation on the proposals was launched, Mr Russell said universities must "remain fit for purpose in a modern Scotland".

The Education Secretary said: "This Government has invested heavily in our university sector and remains committed to placing free tuition at the core of our offer to students and ensuring access to higher education is as wide as it can be.

"But we must continue to evolve and innovate if we are to keep our standards high.

"Our higher education institutions, with such a rich history and exciting future, are, by their own account some of the most autonomous in the world. They must continue to have a strong democratic accountability in their governance arrangements and they remain fit for purpose in a modern Scotland."

The proposals have been put forward after Professor Ferdinand von Prondzynski, the principal of Robert Gordon University, chaired a review of university governance for ministers.

His report, published in 2012, called for the establishment of elected chairs of court, a minimum of 40% female court members and more transparency around senior management pay.

Universities Scotland convener Professor Pete Downes said universities had recently adopted a governance code based on the principles of "inclusiveness, transparency, effectiveness and accountability".

He said: "We urge careful appraisal of whether government action now will enhance universities' implementation of the principles which are at the heart of our autonomy and success."

He said the body would discuss whether various aspects of the proposals "are appropriate subjects for government policy or legislation, or whether they reflect recommendations which the Von Prondzynski Review made to universities rather than to government".

He added: "The Scottish Government has made a significant investment in the higher education sector in recent years which has been invaluable in keeping the sector competitive on an international stage and delivering for the economy at home. We need to ensure that the outcomes from this consultation are consistent with universities' autonomous capacity to deliver a social, economic and cultural return on that investment."

Separately, the Committee of Chairs of Scottish Higher Education Institutions (CSC) has published a report setting out what changes have been made one year on from a new code of governance being adopted.

Since then, five out the last six appointments to the role of chair have been women, the CSC said, while 42% of all new appointments of independent members on governing bodies have been female.

Meanwhile, a register of interests for independent members of university governing bodies is now published online.

David Ross, chair of the CSC , said: "I'm very proud that, building on strong foundations, the university sector has established a 'new normal' of the very highest standards of transparency, accountability and effectiveness. I'm proud that the implementation of the new code places students and staff at the heart of good governance."