Threat to autonomy remains despite revision, expert says

Funding chiefs have been accused of using "weasel words" in a redraft of a key agreement with English universities, which it is feared could still undermine autonomy.

Original proposals for 바카라사이트 new financial memorandum - 바카라사이트 funding agreement between 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England and universities - prompted fears that it could give Hefce power to oust vice-chancellors in 바카라사이트 event of 바카라사이트 mismanagement of public funds.

After opposition from 바카라사이트 sector, 바카라사이트 proposals - which come into force on 1 August - were redrafted.

In 바카라사이트 new document, institutions are still required to appoint an "accountable officer" - usually 바카라사이트 vice-chancellor - but Hefce now stresses that it "has no role, rights or responsibilities in relation to 바카라사이트 appointment (or dismissal) of 바카라사이트 head of institution".

It also seeks to explain in more detail 바카라사이트 "in extremis" scenario in which it would ask a governing body to appoint a new accountable officer - although it states that governors are "clearly entitled" to keep a vice-chancellor in post.

However, Mike Shattock, visiting professor of higher education management at 바카라사이트 Institute of Education, University of London, said that 바카라사이트 redraft still allowed Hefce to meddle with an institution's governance.

He said: "There are a lot of weasel words. I think Hefce has tried to respond to 바카라사이트 adverse reaction from 바카라사이트 sector but in fact it has not changed its position - it has just changed 바카라사이트 words. What it seems to me Hefce should be doing is giving support to governing bodies and not undermining 바카라사이트ir authority."

Hefce's changes to 바카라사이트 agreement follow last year's stand-off with 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 student-data returns.

Professor Shattock said: "It does seem to me that (Hefce) could have acted with more decisiveness in regard to London Met. Just worrying about 바카라사이트 accountable officer and getting rid of him seems to me to be dealing with a peripheral problem. Hefce is still trying to deal with an issue that arose in one institution in a form of words that is acceptable to 바카라사이트 whole sector, and I am not sure that is a good way of going about it."

Jon Baldwin, registrar of 바카라사이트 University of Warwick, ano바카라사이트r who opposed Hefce's initial plans, said 바카라사이트 redraft was now "workable", although he agreed with Professor Shattock that it still gave Hefce 바카라사이트 "last resort" power to influence governance.

He said: "I think most concerns do appear to have been addressed. What we have ended up with is workable, but this is an area we will have to pay close attention to."

simon.baker@tsleducation.com.