Source: Association Of Commonwealth Universities
Atkins: ‘steely calmness in working through 바카라사이트 implications of policy change’
The suggestion that Madeleine Atkins’ ability to run 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England will be hampered by her lack of experience of administering large research budgets is “ridiculous”, a?senior sector figure has argued.
The Coventry University vice-chancellor was named as successor to Sir Alan Langlands last week. Prior to taking over at Coventry in 2004, Professor Atkins held senior roles at Newcastle University, and has degrees from 바카라사이트 universities of Nottingham and Cambridge. She is also a member of Hefce’s board.
Critics have argued that she lacks 바카라사이트 intimate knowledge of 바카라사이트 quality-related (QR) research funding stream that is acquired by running a research-intensive institution. However, Steve West, vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of 바카라사이트 West of England and chair of 바카라사이트 University Alliance (of which Coventry is a member), suggested that this “ridiculous” argument derived from “academic snobbery” about post-1992 universities.
“This is about appointing 바카라사이트 right person with 바카라사이트 leadership skills to help 바카라사이트 sector. Any chief executive builds 바카라사이트 best team possible to do 바카라사이트 job and leads that team. They don’t have to be an expert in everything,” he said.
Pam Tatlow, chief executive of Million+, which represents a number of post-92s, said that Professor Atkins’ appointment was an indication that post-92s were no longer seen as “second best”.
Professor Atkins had made a “sea-change difference” at Coventry, she added, making its courses more “entrepreneurial and employer-focused”, and introducing variable fee levels via its cut-price spin-off, Coventry University College.
Professor West also pointed to Professor Atkins’ pioneering international agenda, with Coventry partnering employers outside 바카라사이트 UK, such as 바카라사이트 Emirates Aviation College in 바카라사이트 United Arab Emirates. He said such innovations had arisen out of Professor Atkins’ “steely calmness in working through 바카라사이트 implications of policy change”.
He expected her to show similar “backbone” when dealing with ministers, thus continuing Sir Alan’s legacy of ensuring that “we were not pounded by too much daft thinking” from 바카라사이트 government.
Professor West also dismissed suggestions that 바카라사이트 role of Hefce chief executive had been diminished – and potential candidates dissuaded – by 바카라사이트 coalition’s removal of large amounts of Hefce teaching funding and consequent doubts about how it will wield regulatory power. The current “period of flux” would give Professor Atkins a “huge opportunity to influence – provided ministers are in listening mode”.
Alex Bols, chief executive of 바카라사이트 1994 Group, also endorsed Professor Atkins’ appointment, saying her sector-spanning background would allow her to champion higher education in 바카라사이트 “corridors of power” ahead of 바카라사이트 next spending round (which is widely expected to be very tough).
Roger Brown, co-director of 바카라사이트 Centre of Higher Education Research Development at Liverpool Hope University, said Hefce “could have done far worse” than appoint Professor Atkins. “She hasn’t got a…personal agenda. She is straight and sensible, very hard-working and determined, and is not as egotistical as many of her male colleagues,” he said.
But, he added, she would have a tough job because 바카라사이트 government’s plan for Hefce to wield regulatory power via its remit to “designate” courses for public funding was “a ramshackle effort that won’t work”.
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