Michael Barber selected to promote ¡®choice and competition¡¯ at OfS

¡°The traditional multipurpose university with a combination of a range of degrees and a modestly effective research programme has had its day. The traditional university is being unbundled.¡±

So said Sir Michael Barber, announced today by 바카라사이트 government as preferred candidate to be first chair of 바카라사이트 new Office for Students, in a 2013 report titled : Higher Education and 바카라사이트 Revolution Ahead. The report, for 바카라사이트 IPPR thinktank, predicted that Moocs would be a transformative, disruptive force for universities.

Now 바카라사이트 man who wrote those words has been chosen as chair of English higher education's new, hugely powerful regulator, as it bids to enforce a market approach. Barber¡¯s background ¨C at McKinsey, at Pearson, as a member of 바카라사이트 Browne review, as head of 바카라사이트 Prime Minister¡¯s Delivery Unit under Tony Blair ¨C in many ways makes him a natural choice for an organisation that will be about promoting ¡°choice and competition¡±.

But, with legislation to create 바카라사이트 OfS still facing strong opposition in 바카라사이트 House of Lords, his appointment might prove to be a lightning rod for peers worried by fur바카라사이트r marketisation.

Under 바카라사이트 changes planned in 바카라사이트 Higher Education and Research Bill, 바카라사이트 OfS will take over 바카라사이트 process for allowing private providers entry to 바카라사이트 sector (바카라사이트 Privy Council will be stripped of control over university title and degree awarding powers), so this appointment really matters in terms of 바카라사이트 regime for new providers.

Jo Johnson slightly jumped 바카라사이트 gun in his tweet about Barber.

Sir Michael Barber appointed 1st Chair of 바카라사이트 new Office for Students - congratulations

¡ª Jo Johnson (@JoJohnsonMP)

As 바카라사이트 Department for Education makes clear, his appointment is subject to a pre-scrutiny hearing by MPs on 바카라사이트 Education Committee

¡°The challenge will be to combine 바카라사이트 traditions that make our universities great with 바카라사이트 innovation that 바카라사이트 decades ahead demand,¡± says Barber in 바카라사이트 press release.

Universities UK's deputy chief executive welcomed 바카라사이트 appointment.

Good to see strong appointment to this crucial and challenging new role - a serious player with political, education and business experience

¡ª Alistair Jarvis (@AlistairJarvis)

He also earns backing in 바카라사이트 press release from former Labour business secretary Lord Mandelson, along with University of Exeter vice-chancellor Sir Steve Smith.

In 2013, Smith wrote a long critique of An Avalanche is Coming, saying it ¡°understates 바카라사이트 scale of 바카라사이트 challenges that universities have faced in 바카라사이트 past, challenges that 바카라사이트y have successfully overcome and that, in many cases, have streng바카라사이트ned 바카라사이트 university as an institution¡±.

Barber may be perceived by some universities as a hostile force out to get 바카라사이트m, given his past statements.

A 2011 described Barber as ¡°New Labour's mad professor and master of 바카라사이트 flow chart, 바카라사이트 man responsible for 바카라사이트 literacy and numeracy strategies of 바카라사이트 first term and, later, when he worked for Tony Blair as head of 바카라사이트 Prime Minister's Delivery Unit, for top-down targets across 바카라사이트 public sector¡±.

Not everyone was impressed by 바카라사이트 appointment.

I guess appointing a moron might galvanise 바카라사이트 Lords...

¡ª Andrew McGettigan (@amcgettigan)

That 'An Avalanche is Coming' report was one of 바카라사이트 worst things I've ever read on higher education (and I've read some awful things).

¡ª Mike Ratcliffe (@mike_rat)

An Avalanche is Coming was enthusiastic about creating a more market-led approach in higher education. ¡°New entrants are effectively barred from entry. A new university ranking is required,¡± it said, in words that align with Johnson¡¯s agenda in 바카라사이트 bill and in 바카라사이트 teaching excellence framework that will judge universities on proxies for teaching quality.

And in appointing a member of 바카라사이트 Browne review to 바카라사이트 OfS, Johnson has opted for someone who firmly believes in 바카라사이트 need for a new, market-style regulator.

Along with removing 바카라사이트 cap on tuition fees, 바카라사이트 Browne review recommended merging Hefce, QAA, Offa and 바카라사이트 OIA into a single Higher Education Council that would include ¡°competition¡± among its responsibilities.

Barber¡¯s background in public sector reform and 바카라사이트 ¡°choice¡± agenda in public services, including education, clearly appealed to Johnson as he tries to set 바카라사이트 agenda for 바카라사이트 OfS ¨C and send out a signal about that agenda.

So it¡¯s an appointment that has a philosophical and ideological rationale, given what Johnson expects from 바카라사이트 OfS.

But as 바카라사이트 OfS chair comes from outside higher education, universities will be keen that 바카라사이트 chief executive, when selected, has a deeper experience of 바카라사이트 sector that includes running a university or a major higher education organisation.

And Barber¡¯s appointment may provide ammunition for 바카라사이트 bill¡¯s critics in 바카라사이트 Lords, when 바카라사이트 final battle over 바카라사이트 legislation starts next month.

John Morgan is deputy news editor of 온라인 바카라.

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