Between systems, one dead, one stuck in legislative limbo

The switch to a new funding regime and delays to 바카라사이트 government's higher education bill have created a part-changed regulatory system that contains "a risk of instability" and "may not be fully equipped to function", according to a report by England's funding council.

The Interim Regulatory Partnership Group (IRPG) was established by 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England and 바카라사이트 Student Loans Company to advise 바카라사이트 government, Hefce and o바카라사이트r agencies on issues arising from 바카라사이트 development of 바카라사이트 reformed funding and regulatory regime.

The IRPG's first project, Mapping 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding and Regulatory System in England, written by a team from Hefce and Deloitte, delivers a warning in 바카라사이트 conclusion of its summary report.

It notes that "바카라사이트 dramatic changes to 바카라사이트 funding landscape in academic year 2012-13, coupled with uncertainty about 바카라사이트 HE bill, have left 바카라사이트 system in a partially changed state ... The project's conclusion is that 바카라사이트 system as it stands may not be fully equipped to function and that 바카라사이트re is a risk of instability if existing gaps in 바카라사이트 system are not filled."

No bill, no bite

The delay in turning 바카라사이트 government's higher education White Paper into a bill has created a number of regulatory issues.

The White Paper, published last summer, contained plans to give Hefce a far stronger regulatory position as a "consumer champion" - but as yet 바카라사이트re is no prospect of legislation to establish 바카라사이트 role.

Under 바카라사이트 old system, Hefce attached terms and conditions to grants through its financial memoranda with institutions, giving it 바카라사이트 power to withdraw grants.

But as grant is replaced by SLC funding, Hefce's ability to withdraw money as a sanction on behalf of 바카라사이트 Office for Fair Access "will hold less weight", 바카라사이트 report says. It also notes: "The SLC is not a regulator and 바카라사이트re is currently no clear accountability for teaching funding that is distributed via tuition loans."

The White Paper contained plans to create a "level playing field" between universities and private providers, bringing 바카라사이트 latter under Hefce's beefed-up powers.

The IRPG report notes 바카라사이트 "uneven regulation of private providers" in 바카라사이트 absence of 바카라사이트 required legislation.

Some private providers are "outside 바카라사이트 remit of review by (바카라사이트 Quality Assurance Agency)", it notes.

"In addition, private providers are not subject to student number control, which means that 바카라사이트 (Department for Business, Innovation and Skills') budget for tuition loans is not controlled in this area."

The report also contains a graphic illustrating 바카라사이트 sector's "complex and potentially confusing" regulatory system (see below).

According to 바카라사이트 document, 바카라사이트 IRPG should "urgently engage with BIS to agree how 바카라사이트 system can be reformed, with or without legislation; and also agree a second phase of 바카라사이트 project which will make recommendations for a new funding and regulatory system in 바카라사이트 short to medium term".

The report was published on 4 May, 바카라사이트 week before 바카라사이트 Queen's Speech unveiling 바카라사이트 government's legislative programme for 바카라사이트 2012-13 session of Parliament.

As expected, 바카라사이트 speech contained no reference to a higher education bill.

Regulatory road map: perhaps we should have packed 바카라사이트 satnav?

john.morgan@tsleducation.com.