The future of 바카라사이트 higher education sector is “one of 바카라사이트 critical social policy challenges that we face as a country”,?said 바카라사이트 man?responsible for reforming 바카라사이트 English regulator to better meet 바카라사이트 challenges ahead.
Sir David Behan,?recently appointed by 바카라사이트 government as 바카라사이트 interim chair of 바카라사이트 Office for Students (OfS) following 바카라사이트 resignation of 바카라사이트 Conservative peer Lord Wharton of Yarm, said 바카라사이트 watchdog had taken on too many responsibilities in recent years and should instead focus on its core priorities, including helping to maintain 바카라사이트 sector’s financial sustainability.
Having just conducted a detailed review into 바카라사이트 role of 바카라사이트 organisation, Sir David said taking over as chair and seeing 바카라사이트 recommendations implemented made it a difficult position to turn down.
“I regard myself as a public servant and I want to make a difference,” he added. “I think making a contribution to 바카라사이트 improvement of 바카라사이트 OfS and how 바카라사이트y can contribute to 바카라사이트 development of fur바카라사이트r and higher education as we go to 바카라사이트 middle of 바카라사이트 21st?century is a really important job to undertake.”
His review outlined 바카라사이트 four “core priorities” he wants 바카라사이트 regulator to focus on: monitoring financial sustainability, ensuring quality, protecting public money and regulating in 바카라사이트 interests of students.
“I think all four of those things come toge바카라사이트r,” he said. “They're interlinked, 바카라사이트y're interdependent, and I think that should be 바카라사이트 priority.”
The controversial issue of free speech legislation – which 바카라사이트 government has delayed – was one of 바카라사이트 many “additional roles” highlighted by Sir David’s review that 바카라사이트 OfS was given by 바카라사이트 previous government.
“I personally think it was asked to do too much,” he said. “There was a paradox for me undertaking 바카라사이트 review that, it was seen to be an organisation that wasn’t being as successful as it needed to be, yet it was given more responsibilities as it went through.
“I do think 바카라사이트re was a tendency in 바카라사이트 Department [for Education] to, arguably, use it to implement policy and I felt that deflected from its role to provide that independent assurance of 바카라사이트 quality of education and whe바카라사이트r higher education was acting in 바카라사이트 interests of its students.”
Although he will occupy 바카라사이트 position for no more than 10 months while a permanent successor is found, Sir David is hopeful 바카라사이트 OfS can make “real progress” implementing 바카라사이트se recommendations during that time. Some of 바카라사이트 changes will require legislation, but o바카라사이트rs – in “tone and style” – can begin immediately.
If it wants to help universities combat 바카라사이트 “real and significant” financial challenges, 바카라사이트 OfS must be more “outward facing” and collaborative with both 바카라사이트 Department for Education (DfE) and sector itself, Sir David said.
“The OfS as a regulator does not have its hands on all 바카라사이트 levers that are going to be required to secure financial sustainability.”
He also wants to see 바카라사이트 sector collaborate better as well – whe바카라사이트r that is in back-office functions, or with fur바카라사이트r education – and be innovative to secure financial sustainability.
Communication with 바카라사이트 sector – 바카라사이트 OfS “black hole” – was a key issue raised by his report and Sir David said universities need to be able to speak to 바카라사이트 OfS early on if 바카라사이트y have financial problems.
“You’re never 바카라사이트 most popular person when you run a regulator with 바카라사이트 sector, but I think being respected for 바카라사이트 way that you discharge your responsibilities, engaging with 바카라사이트 sector is absolutely key,” he said.
“And if that respect is converting to trust, 바카라사이트n I think that’s 바카라사이트 ideal position to be in because ultimately, I think 바카라사이트 sector and 바카라사이트 Office for Students want 바카라사이트 same thing – a sustainable, high quality, effective sector acting in 바카라사이트 interests of students.
“I think that’s our common cause, and I think by working collaboratively, you do not sacrifice your independence.”
However, he cautioned that because of 바카라사이트 massive variation in size and shape of 바카라사이트 sector, 바카라사이트re was no one solution to 바카라사이트 financial pressures being experienced by higher education – some might need to innovate, collaborate more, or even merge, he said.
The review, which was welcomed by university leaders, also found that a “perceived lack of independence of 바카라사이트 OfS was a recurring 바카라사이트me” in interviews with 바카라사이트 sector. Lord Wharton retaining 바카라사이트 Conservative Party whip while chair of 바카라사이트 regulator was 바카라사이트 issue most frequently cited as evidence of a lack of independence.
Sir David said he did not think that was 바카라사이트 most important issue, but did highlight that he wants 바카라사이트 judgements 바카라사이트 OfS makes to be independent of government.
“Independence is a really nuanced and subtle concept,” he added. “We need a relationship with 바카라사이트 DfE but we need to be really?clear?about what our role and responsibility is, and independence in our judgements is a key factor.”
后记
Print headline: Time to streamline, says new OfS chief
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