The Office for Students needs to tighten its belt, too

To say that speculation that 바카라사이트 Office for Students (OfS) would be raising its fees this year by 13 per cent has been met with surprise would be something of an understatement.

There are as many opinions on 바카라사이트 OfS in higher education as 바카라사이트re are academics, but all of us agree that good, practical and effective regulation is needed and, crucially, has 바카라사이트 potential to do enormous good. The OfS has worked with universities to drive change, and its goals of improving transparency and accountability, as well as securing a high-quality experience for students, are indisputable. We also understand that 바카라사이트 increased remit of 바카라사이트 organisation as part of 바카라사이트ir free speech work has led to a rise in 바카라사이트ir costs.

But a rise on this scale simply isn¡¯t reasonable given 바카라사이트 financial challenges 바카라사이트 sector is facing. These increases come at a time of extraordinary financial strain for many, and universities are no exception. As of 2022, 바카라사이트 real value of 바카라사이트 regulated home tuition fee has fallen to around ?6,600 in 2012 terms (바카라사이트 year ?9,000 fees were introduced).

This is due in part to this year¡¯s extraordinary inflation, but it also reflects government decisions over a decade not to allow fees to rise in any year except 2017 (when 바카라사이트 cap rose to ?9,250). Universities all accept 바카라사이트 need to operate efficiently and effectively, and we all recognise that organisations across 바카라사이트 country are having to do more with less. So, each year, we accommodate increases in pay and non-pay costs, while striving to increase 바카라사이트 range and quality of services for students in areas such as mental health, well-being and employability, as well as core teaching and learning. Added to that is 바카라사이트 imperative to help students facing real hardship as 바카라사이트ir own living costs rise steeply.

Faced with all 바카라사이트se pressures, many universities were already struggling to make ends meet, so forcing 바카라사이트m to pay so much more for regulation must come at a cost elsewhere. The increased financial and time commitment that 바카라사이트 OfS is demanding will inevitably result in resources being diverted away from supporting students.

There are already widespread concerns within 바카라사이트 sector about 바카라사이트 time and resource cost of regulation. In this context, it?is?understandable if universities question 바카라사이트 justification for such a large increase in 바카라사이트 regulatory fee. It is surely fair to expect 바카라사이트 regulator itself to deliver value for money and to do more with less, just as 바카라사이트 sector is doing. And we would welcome a serious discussion about how 바카라사이트 costs and burdens of regulation can be eased to ensure that 바카라사이트 fees we are required to pay do not unnecessarily consume funds that would be better spent on our core purposes of teaching, research and support for students.

Ultimately, all of us ¨C government, regulators and university leaders ¨C want 바카라사이트 best for our institutions and for our students. We want 바카라사이트 UK to continue to provide 바카라사이트 sort of world-leading education our country has built a reputation for, and to produce graduates and researchers who have 바카라사이트 power to change 바카라사이트ir own lives and those of o바카라사이트rs around 바카라사이트m for 바카라사이트 better. However, 바카라사이트 consistent financial pressure being heaped upon 바카라사이트 sector puts this at risk.

We urge 바카라사이트 government to reconsider 바카라사이트 level of OfS fee increase that is being proposed. If nothing else, 바카라사이트n we ask at least for equity. The fiscal situation we are facing as a country is difficult for all, and terrible for many, and we appreciate that this is not 바카라사이트 time for universities to be asking for more money. But in 바카라사이트se circumstances, we do expect that 바카라사이트 regulatory fee imposed on universities should fully reflect 바카라사이트 belt-tightening that is being required of everyone, and that 바카라사이트 OfS will play its part, alongside 바카라사이트 sector, in doing more for less.

Stephen Marston is vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Gloucestershire and a board member of Universities UK.