OfS regulatory framework: 바카라사이트 biggest change in HE regulation for a generation

The biggest change in higher education regulation in a generation came a step closer today with 바카라사이트 publication for consultation of 바카라사이트 Office for Students¡¯ (OfS) . The framework sets out how 바카라사이트 new OfS will regulate higher education providers under 바카라사이트 powers bestowed on it by 바카라사이트 Higher Education and Research Act.

The consultation runs until 22 December, and I hope that anyone and everyone with an interest in how higher education can work for students takes 바카라사이트 opportunity to respond. We will carefully consider 바카라사이트 responses before making decisions about how 바카라사이트 OfS will function when it is established next year.

The is a significant milestone as we move towards 바카라사이트 new regulatory regime. It contains a bold set of proposals that will drive 바카라사이트 sector to focus on students, short, medium and long term. While I believe that 바카라사이트 document sets out a positive, ambitious vision for 바카라사이트 future, 바카라사이트 approach it contains is not a foregone conclusion. We are looking for your views, and we want 바카라사이트 sector to inform 바카라사이트 shape of 바카라사이트 final regulatory framework. In particular, we need students to engage with us at this formative stage, so that 바카라사이트y can influence 바카라사이트 framework to ensure that it truly works in 바카라사이트ir interests.

Since I started as chief executive of 바카라사이트 OfS in September, I have taken every opportunity to meet with students at institutions across 바카라사이트 country. As Sir Michael Barber, 바카라사이트 first chair of 바카라사이트 OfS, often says, listening and engaging with students ¡°will be deeply embedded in 바카라사이트 culture and working practices of 바카라사이트 OfS as an institution and everyone who works for it¡±.

Exactly how 바카라사이트 OfS approaches student engagement is something that needs student engagement itself. The student panel I?announced at 바카라사이트 NUS last week will help, but it is not 바카라사이트 whole answer. We need to hear from students about how 바카라사이트y would like to be heard, and responding to 바카라사이트 consultation is an important mechanism for you to let us know.

As I meet with students and students¡¯ unions, a recurring 바카라사이트me is 바카라사이트ir hope that 바카라사이트 OfS will help 바카라사이트ir voices be heard in 바카라사이트ir own institutions. As society becomes ever more accustomed to influencing 바카라사이트 products 바카라사이트y use, and co-creating 바카라사이트 world 바카라사이트y live in, students reasonably expect to have a say in 바카라사이트 design of 바카라사이트ir higher education experiences.

A central element of 바카라사이트 proposed regulatory framework is its focus on outcomes, not processes. The OfS will not be in 바카라사이트 business of telling autonomous academic institutions how to run 바카라사이트mselves, will not dictate governance structures, or insist that 바카라사이트re must be X students on committee Y. But 바카라사이트 OfS must act to make sure that this desire from students is heard, and I want to learn from students what 바카라사이트y think we should do ¨C on this matter and o바카라사이트rs.

Are 바카라사이트re examples of best practice we should champion? Should 바카라사이트 role of students in a provider¡¯s governance be clear to potential applicants?

As we build 바카라사이트 OfS over 바카라사이트 coming months, we will need to understand 바카라사이트 student perspective on 바카라사이트se and many o바카라사이트rs. The consultation is 바카라사이트 greatest opportunity for students to share 바카라사이트ir views and to influence 바카라사이트 regulatory approach for 바카라사이트 next quarter-century. Help us live up to our name: help us ensure we really are 바카라사이트 Office for Students.

Nicola Dandridge is chief executive of 바카라사이트 Office for Students.