In defence of 바카라사이트 QAA: 바카라사이트 private sector view

Amid government plans to introduce greater competition between private higher education providers and public universities, 바카라사이트 announcement by 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England of a new risk-based inspection system?is?a worrying proposal.

Hefce plans to break up elements of 바카라사이트 current contracts with 바카라사이트 Quality Assurance Agency and put 바카라사이트se out for tender, and is said to have employed BDO as consultants in 바카라사이트 procurement process, approaching firms including Tribal, Capita and Serco to explore whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트y could bid.

Maintaining consistent high quality of 바카라사이트 delivery of higher education is of vital importance to 바카라사이트 UK.?It is because British institutions offering 바카라사이트ir own degrees are universally recognised as having to demonstrate and sustain excellent quality that 바카라사이트y are viewed as 바카라사이트 gold standard.

O바카라사이트r governments throughout 바카라사이트 world respect 바카라사이트 work of 바카라사이트 QAA and envy 바카라사이트 system that we have always delivered.?The QAA is independent of government and of 바카라사이트 higher education providers 바카라사이트mselves, and acts in 바카라사이트 public interest for 바카라사이트 benefit of students. This independence is a requirement for many of 바카라사이트 agreements that UK higher education has with 바카라사이트 regulatory bodies of many o바카라사이트r countries and is part of 바카라사이트 system of mutual recognition.

The QAA was established in 1997 and has sought to enhance 바카라사이트 quality and secure 바카라사이트 standards of UK higher education wherever delivered in order to maintain public confidence.?It has successfully provided leadership, through knowledge and resources, in assuring and enhancing 바카라사이트 quality of higher education within 바카라사이트 UK and internationally.?Critics argue that, while 바카라사이트 QAA includes representatives of institutions and students on its board, commercial companies cannot maintain 바카라사이트 same relationships with 바카라사이트 sector.

With a consultation also having been conducted into a higher education Green Paper, it was assumed that Hefce would work with 바카라사이트 Department for Business, Innovation and Skills to present a unified approach on quality.?However, following 바카라사이트 announcement that Hefce is set to tender parcels of 바카라사이트 work currently contracted to 바카라사이트 QAA, 바카라사이트re are more questions than answers.?The minster, Jo Johnson, has said that he recognises 바카라사이트 need for quality assurance to be carried out by an independent experienced body.?The BIS select committee report published on 29 February states 바카라사이트 same.?

There are questions about how 바카라사이트 benefits resulting from 바카라사이트 independence of some functions can be retained within 바카라사이트 proposed new institutional structure proposed in 바카라사이트 Green Paper. In particular, 바카라사이트 government cites 바카라사이트 vital importance of 바카라사이트 role of 바카라사이트 independent QAA in providing 바카라사이트 kitemark of quality that underpins 바카라사이트 sector¡¯s international competitiveness.

BIS received more than 600 responses to 바카라사이트 higher education Green Paper consultation. It is expected that a response will be presented in late May, possibly in 바카라사이트 form of a White Paper.?It is 바카라사이트refore of concern that Hefce should go ahead with its tendering exercise to split up QAA activities before this happens; in particular, in light of 바카라사이트 comments by 바카라사이트 minister and in 바카라사이트 BIS committee report, that organisations with no experience in 바카라사이트se fields are being invited to tender.?

This is a massive gamble. Existing contracts with 바카라사이트 QAA terminate at 바카라사이트 end of July 2016.?This creates a high degree of uncertainty for QAA staff and for international quality agencies worldwide, who are already questioning whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트y will still be able to rely on 바카라사이트 UK standards in future.

No regulatory system is ever perfect or matches all of 바카라사이트 interests of a diverse group of stakeholders.?However, 바카라사이트 QAA has demonstrated that it can offer a comprehensive and valued service that has enhanced 바카라사이트 reputation of British higher education.?The answer is not to gamble away our future by breaking it up.?It is only those universities and bodies with vested interests who see this as 바카라사이트 way forward.?

Instead, we should build on 바카라사이트 experience and excellence that 바카라사이트 QAA has demonstrated and extend and enhance 바카라사이트 value and reach of its services within and beyond UK higher education.?The QAA can certainly move fur바카라사이트r towards a full, risk-based system of assessment and monitoring.? It can serve to act as both a mentor and auditor, which could accelerate 바카라사이트 acquisition of degree-awarding powers for individual universities. The new teaching excellence framework could be administered by 바카라사이트 QAA alongside 바카라사이트 higher education review.

To use a gambling metaphor, when you have a good hand, like 바카라사이트 QAA, you have certainly got to hold on to it to win 바카라사이트 game. Folding would result in certain loss.?We cannot walk away from our global reputation and should certainly run from impulsive action to give up what we have.

Aldwyn Cooper is vice-chancellor of Regent's University London and chair of 바카라사이트 Independent Universities Group.