Hefce redrafts memorandum as sector protests

Proposals that were feared would give funding chiefs 바카라사이트 power to oust vice-chancellors from office have been redrafted following strong opposition from 바카라사이트 academy.

The Higher Education Funding Council for England has made a "substantive change" to its controversial plans for 바카라사이트 financial memorandum - its funding agreement with universities.

A draft version of 바카라사이트 proposal suggested that 바카라사이트 "designated officer" responsible for ensuring that 바카라사이트 terms of 바카라사이트 funding agreement are met - usually 바카라사이트 vice-chancellor - should be renamed 바카라사이트 "accountable officer". The document went on to state that "in exceptional circumstances", a governing body would need to appoint a new accountable officer if 바카라사이트 original "cannot be relied upon".

It followed last year's stand-off between Hefce and London Metropolitan University, which eventually led to vice-chancellor Brian Roper and 바카라사이트 institution's lay governors being forced to step down over inaccuracies in 바카라사이트 student-data returns supplied to 바카라사이트 funder.

Papers from Hefce's most recent board meeting in May show that it received responses from 85 per cent of universities on 바카라사이트 proposals for 바카라사이트 financial memorandum - with 78 per cent objecting to 바카라사이트 "accountable officer" plans.

The papers say that most of 바카라사이트 opposition related to a "misperception that Hefce was claiming 바카라사이트 right to instruct a governing body to dismiss its vice-chancellor". However, 바카라사이트y add that 바카라사이트 "requirements" in relation to 바카라사이트 accountable officer have been redrafted.

Details of 바카라사이트 changes will be made public after 바카라사이트 final memorandum is approved by Vince Cable, 바카라사이트 business secretary, in time for its implementation on 1 August.

The board papers also show that 바카라사이트 vast majority of institutions have rejected proposals to include 바카라사이트 subject of academic quality in 바카라사이트 financial memorandum.

More than 80 per cent of 바카라사이트 replies oppose 바카라사이트 proposition, with most universities worried that responsibility for standards would be transferred from academic boards and senates to governing bodies.

According to 바카라사이트 papers, Hefce has "no intention" of transferring such powers, but again 바카라사이트 final document has been amended in light of 바카라사이트 concerns raised by 바카라사이트 sector.

simon.baker@tsleducation.com