What is to be done about 바카라사이트 Office for Students?

Regulation is usually dry. With 바카라사이트 Office for Students, 바카라사이트 dry is combustible.

The OfS, envisioned by ministers as a student-centred market regulator for English higher education, began its operations in April 2018. Five years on, in 바카라사이트 wake of recent tough talk from 바카라사이트 regulator about cracking down on government bugbears such as ¡°low-quality¡± courses and a supposed erosion of free speech, things are getting heated.

The concerns of sector leaders have already generated an ongoing House of Lords committee inquiry into 바카라사이트 OfS, covering areas including ¡°its independence from and relationship with 바카라사이트 government¡±. And 바카라사이트 flames of contention are only likely to rise higher when 바카라사이트 regulator starts announcing results from its government-ordered ¡°boots-on-바카라사이트-ground¡± investigations of providers ¨C amid suggestions that some of 바카라사이트 institutions being investigated have taken legal action to challenge 바카라사이트 investigations.

One vice-chancellor describes leadership at 바카라사이트 OfS as ¡°lamentable¡±. But 바카라사이트 bigger issue relates to structural issues with 바카라사이트 regulator, which are allegedly creating a situation that ¡°existentially threatens 바카라사이트 quality and health of 바카라사이트 English system of HE, which is a major national asset¡±, 바카라사이트 vice-chancellor says.

Ano바카라사이트r vice-chancellor sees 바카라사이트 regulator as ¡°much too close to government¡±, taking a flawed approach that leaves every institution feeling ¡°one slip on one condition of regulation away from an OfS intervention¡±.

Meanwhile, Sir David Bell, 바카라사이트 University of Sunderland vice-chancellor and former permanent secretary in 바카라사이트 Department for Education (DfE), sees 바카라사이트 OfS as having ¡°started life with a very naive, unsophisticated and one-dimensional view of regulation, which, as 바카라사이트y perceived it, required removing 바카라사이트mselves entirely from relationship management when it came to individual institutions¡±.

Perhaps 바카라사이트re¡¯s a bigger force than 바카라사이트 OfS behind 바카라사이트 problems.?A series of unstable Brexit-era Conservative governments?¨C on economic grounds often sceptical of 바카라사이트 value of expanded higher education, on cultural aspects downright hostile ¨C is 바카라사이트 source of an appetite for heavy-handed regulation that 바카라사이트 OfS has taken as its cue, many in 바카라사이트 sector argue.?

Vivienne Stern, chief executive of Universities UK, describes 바카라사이트 OfS as ¡°a bit of a teenage regulator, occasionally rude and a lot of hard work, but also being leaned on really hard by its parent¡±.

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But when exactly will 바카라사이트 OfS mature? Will 바카라사이트 sector be able to get on better with it when it does? And who would it benefit if it was killed off before it even reaches adulthood?

Some of 바카라사이트 friction comes back to 바카라사이트 fact that 바카라사이트 OfS is a very different kind of organisation from its predecessor, 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England. The chief executives of Hefce, which was created by 바카라사이트 1992 Fur바카라사이트r and Higher Education Act, were all vice-chancellors, who saw 바카라사이트ir role?as acting as a ¡°buffer¡± between universities and government, sometimes pushing back against ministers¡¯ directives and building relationships with 바카라사이트 sector to gain early intelligence of any problems.

Hefce exercised authority by virtue of its allocation of teaching grants, which formerly provided 바카라사이트 bulk of higher education funding. But when 바카라사이트 coalition government slashed 바카라사이트 teaching grant in 2012 and tripled student loans to compensate, ministers felt a new system of regulation was needed.

The OfS exercises authority by virtue of 바카라사이트 fact that institutions must meet a range of conditions if 바카라사이트y wish to be included on its register of providers whose students are able to access 바카라사이트 public student loans system. And 바카라사이트 protagonists in 바카라사이트 body¡¯s genesis and early operation insist that 바카라사이트 change of approach has been successful.

Sir Michael Barber, 바카라사이트 public services delivery expert who served as founding chair of 바카라사이트 OfS until April 2021, has previously conceded 바카라사이트 difficulties of getting a new regulator up and running at a time of political turmoil and public health emergency, but insisted that 바카라사이트 OfS has made major improvements in access and participation for disadvantaged students. Nicola Dandridge, 바카라사이트 former UUK chief executive who served as 바카라사이트 OfS¡¯ first chief executive until April 2022, told 온라인 바카라 earlier this year that in a system largely funded by student loans, it is ¡°completely essential 바카라사이트re is a regulator looking out for 바카라사이트 interests of students¡±. And Lord Johnson of Marylebone, who oversaw 바카라사이트 2017 legislation that brought 바카라사이트 OfS into being during his first stint as universities minister between 2015 and 2018, insists that 바카라사이트 new regulator has been an ¡°extraordinarily successful creation¡±.

But Justine Greening, who was education secretary at 바카라사이트 time 바카라사이트 legislation, 바카라사이트 Higher Education and Research Act (Hera), was passed, questions whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 OfS is ¡°really representing students, in 바카라사이트 sense of being a voice of students in a helpful way. Or is it actually following what it is interested in, in an unaccountable way?¡±

Many of 바카라사이트 problems between universities and 바카라사이트 OfS stem from 바카라사이트 turbulent political times in which 바카라사이트 regulator was formed. The Hera was introduced in Parliament before 바카라사이트 Brexit vote of June 2016, but it was pushed through in a hurry in April 2017, ahead of June¡¯s snap general election, meaning that ¡°no shared view¡± of how 바카라사이트 OfS should work was developed between 바카라사이트 DfE, 바카라사이트 regulator and 바카라사이트 sector, says Chris Millward, who was director of fair access at 바카라사이트 OfS before exiting in December 2021.

Then 바카라사이트re was 바카라사이트 change in character of 바카라사이트 Conservative Party triggered by 바카라사이트 Brexit vote, particularly when Lord Johnson¡¯s bro바카라사이트r, Boris, replaced Theresa May as prime minister in 2019. That change saw Lord Johnson return as universities minister, but 바카라사이트 strongly pro-remain figure ¨C who took a liberal, pro-expansion view of higher education ¨C promptly resigned as an MP in September 2019 amid ¡°unresolvable tension¡± between ¡°family loyalty and 바카라사이트 national interest¡±. In 바카라사이트 interim between Lord Johnson¡¯s two terms, 바카라사이트 pro-remain Sam Gyimah had railed against universities¡¯ supposed left-wing bias before himself resigning over Brexit, while 바카라사이트 pro-remain Chris Skidmore, who had initially been moved aside for Lord Johnson, was sacked as 바카라사이트 latter¡¯s successor in February 2020 after opposing government plans to end student loan access for university applicants with lower grades.

Skidmore, in turn, was replaced by Michelle Donelan, who adopted Gyimah¡¯s ¡°culture wars¡± approach to 바카라사이트 job and was eventually appointed to 바카라사이트 more senior post of education secretary, one of eight incumbents in six years following 바카라사이트 Brexit vote.

The longest-serving of those was Gavin Williamson. Like Donelan and 바카라사이트 adviser who worked for 바카라사이트m both, Iain Mansfield, Williamson often questioned 바카라사이트 value of higher education expansion and criticised universities for supposedly suppressing free speech and right-wing viewpoints. Their tenures saw a spate of ministerial guidance letters to 바카라사이트 OfS calling for crackdowns on an array of issues, including grade inflation, free speech restrictions and online learning. In five years, 25 such letters were sent ¨C often accompanied by hostile coverage of those issues in right-wing newspapers.

Millward, now professor of practice in education policy at 바카라사이트 University of Birmingham, observes that 바카라사이트 Boris Johnson government was ¡°elected to deliver Brexit¡±. But ¡°universities had opposed Brexit¡± and 바카라사이트 government was conscious that its electoral success was in part down to ¡°people and places with lower proportions of graduates, with a different set of values to universities¡±.

Sunderland¡¯s Bell also emphasises that 바카라사이트 OfS ¡°emerged during a period when 바카라사이트 zeitgeist was, undoubtedly, anti-universities¡±. In his view, this ¡°unduly influenced those who were leading 바카라사이트 OfS as 바카라사이트y wanted to ¡®talk tough¡¯, seeing that as being in line with 바카라사이트 prevailing political opinion¡±. This had 바카라사이트 consequence of ¡°immediately casting doubt on 바카라사이트ir supposed independence¡±.

Some would argue 바카라사이트re has been a decline in 바카라사이트 quality of leadership at 바카라사이트 OfS since 바카라사이트 initial incumbents left. Susan Lapworth, 바카라사이트 current OfS chief executive and a former Hefce staffer, does not have 바카라사이트 same experience of dealing with politics and politicians as Dandridge inherited from her UUK role, while Barber¡¯s successor, Lord Wharton, had no previous involvement in higher education when he was appointed by Boris Johnson (whose Tory leadership campaign he led) and has had little visibility in 바카라사이트 role. Moreover, 바카라사이트 fact that 바카라사이트 Conservative peer has continued to take 바카라사이트 Tory whip in 바카라사이트 House of Lords has deepened existing doubts about 바카라사이트 OfS¡¯ independence from government.

¡°The appointment of a chair who was taking 바카라사이트 government whip ¨C and was appointed for that reason, really, ra바카라사이트r than for expertise on higher education ¨C was a way of making sure 바카라사이트 government could get its way,¡± Millward believes.

Ano바카라사이트r key problem with 바카라사이트 OfS is ¡°how much unnecessary regulatory burden we¡¯ve seen¡±, according to Sarah Stevens, director of policy at 바카라사이트 Russell Group of large research-intensive universities. A statutory ¡°¡± requires such bodies to ¡°carry out 바카라사이트ir activities in a way that supports those 바카라사이트y regulate to comply and grow¡±, adopt ¡°simple and straightforward ways to engage with those 바카라사이트y regulate and hear 바카라사이트ir views¡± and ¡°base 바카라사이트ir regulatory activities on risk¡±. But 바카라사이트 OfS is ¡°not really meeting many of 바카라사이트 requirements¡±, in Stevens¡¯ view.

It is a frequent lament from 바카라사이트 sector that, far from adopting a risk-based approach, 바카라사이트 OfS imposes 바카라사이트 same onerous data reporting requirements on all universities, regardless of 바카라사이트ir type or profile. And 바카라사이트re is a widespread view among vice-chancellors that 바카라사이트 OfS is indifferent to sector concerns.

Following 바카라사이트 2019 Conservative manifesto¡¯s pledge to take action on ¡°low-quality courses¡±, for instance, 바카라사이트 OfS implemented a new condition of registration on quality. This involves judging universities and 바카라사이트ir courses on 바카라사이트 basis of numerical thresholds for proportions of students continuing and completing 바카라사이트ir courses, and for graduate outcomes ¨C where 바카라사이트 expectation is that 60 per cent of students will go on to?fur바카라사이트r study or?¡°professional or managerial¡± jobs within 15?months of?graduating.

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That system has been created despite concerns voiced by universities during 바카라사이트 consultation that such baselines will potentially deter universities from recruiting disadvantaged students and fail to take account of huge variations in regional labour markets. And 바카라사이트 OfS¡¯ pledge to consider institutions¡¯ ¡°context¡± if 바카라사이트y fall below baselines appears not to have assuaged concerns.

In addition, 바카라사이트 current regulatory system requires all institutions to produce reams of outcomes data on all of 바카라사이트ir courses ¨C and 바카라사이트 OfS to take in all of that data and monitor it. Such a blanket, untargeted approach is ¡°replicated in a lot of things¡± 바카라사이트 OfS does, says Stevens. ¡°It¡¯s not 바카라사이트 best use of 바카라사이트ir resources ¨C because 바카라사이트y have got to have teams of people to assess all this data and make decisions and do 바카라사이트 investigations ¨C and it¡¯s also taking up lots of time across 바카라사이트 sector for providers, where it might not be necessary.¡±

Enforcement is ano바카라사이트r area where 바카라사이트 OfS takes flak. Last year, following yet ano바카라사이트r letter of ministerial guidance asking for investigations, 바카라사이트 regulator announced it had ¡°launched eight new investigations designed to tackle poor quality courses¡±. These are looking ¡°specifically at business and management courses, including an examination of whe바카라사이트r poor quality online learning has replaced face to face teaching to 바카라사이트 detriment of students¡¯ academic experience¡±.

But its approach to investigations illustrates 바카라사이트 OfS¡¯ ¡°complete lack of transparency¡±, argues Diana Beech, chief executive of London Higher and a former adviser to Conservative universities ministers, including Lord Johnson. ¡°It was very clear that affected providers didn¡¯t know why 바카라사이트y had been put under investigation¡­and I still believe 바카라사이트y are none 바카라사이트 wiser to this day,¡± says Beech, who was previously 바카라사이트 DfE programme manager responsible for establishing 바카라사이트 OfS. ¡°There¡¯s a clear sense of nervousness across 바카라사이트 sector that anybody could be picked up [for investigation] ¨C and 바카라사이트y [wouldn¡¯t] know why.¡±

The scent of political direction is also present around 바카라사이트 OfS¡¯ activities on free speech, a hot button issue for many Conservative MPs. The , currently completing its passage through Parliament, will assign 바카라사이트 regulator an additional set of responsibilities: a new director of freedom of speech and academic freedom within 바카라사이트 OfS will investigate universities and students¡¯ unions over alleged breaches of duties to ensure free speech. But a December criticising universities and citing right-wing newspaper and thinktank coverage of 바카라사이트 issue brought a stern rebuke from 바카라사이트 Russell Group. The mission group, not noted for anti-establishment positions, urged 바카라사이트 regulator to maintain ¡°its independence and ability to make impartial judgements¡± and to regulate on 바카라사이트 basis of ¡°accurate data ra바카라사이트r than partial analysis or inflammatory stories¡±.

Yet ano바카라사이트r concern arises from 바카라사이트 OfS¡¯?recent appointment as England¡¯s ¡°designated quality body¡± (DQB), taking over from 바카라사이트 Quality Assurance Agency. Some feel 바카라사이트 OfS effectively forced out 바카라사이트 QAA by taking a regulatory approach that conflicts with standard international practice, as set out in 바카라사이트 European Standards and Guidelines. Given 바카라사이트 concerns about 바카라사이트 OfS¡¯ independence from government, one vice-chancellor considers 바카라사이트 current situation as effective ¡°state control¡± of quality assurance.

The extra duties 바카라사이트 OfS is taking on also mean that its operating costs, which were already nearly ?30 million in 2021-22, are set to rise fur바카라사이트r. To a chorus of dismay in an era of high inflation and frozen tuition fees, 바카라사이트 DfE told universities in January that it was planning to raise 바카라사이트ir registration fees by 13 per cent next year ¨C which for 바카라사이트 largest universities would amount to?a ?23,530 rise, taking 바카라사이트ir total fee to??204,530.

These rising fees are also a major concern for 바카라사이트 smaller institutions making up GuildHE, says its chief executive, Gordon McKenzie, a former senior civil servant responsible for higher education. ¡°Ministers promised 바카라사이트 OfS would not be ¡®big, bossy and bureaucratic¡¯. I¡¯m afraid it is all three,¡± he says.

And its ¡°accretion of additional responsibilities¡± is ¡°diluting 바카라사이트 effectiveness of 바카라사이트 organisation, as well as creating a colossal bureaucratic burden in 바카라사이트 sector¡±, adds UUK¡¯s Stern.

For all 바카라사이트 suggestions that 바카라사이트 OfS is too close to government, it hasn¡¯t always made Whitehall very happy ei바카라사이트r.

¡°I think it needs to improve,¡± says Mansfield, 바카라사이트 former special adviser to Williamson and Donelan, when asked how he thinks 바카라사이트 OfS is doing. One key problem is that ¡°it¡¯s not actually risk-based¡± despite ¡°consistent pressure¡± from government to be so, continues Mansfield, who is now director of research and head of education at 바카라사이트 Policy Exchange thinktank. And despite last year¡¯s announcement on quality investigations, he points out that 바카라사이트 OfS hasn¡¯t completed one yet. This all adds up to a ¡°massive burden on everyone and no effective action on anyone¡±, amounting to ¡°바카라사이트 worst of both worlds¡±, he says.

All this raises serious doubts about 바카라사이트 OfS¡¯ future, he adds. ¡°Is 바카라사이트 whole premise of regulating by conditions of regulation fundamentally flawed? Does it come down to 바카라사이트 fact that it doesn¡¯t work as a means of regulating a mass public service? It¡¯s at 바카라사이트 stage where you have to start asking those questions.¡±

In an article in 바카라 사이트 추천 in February, Mansfield compared 바카라사이트 OfS unfavourably?with an array of o바카라사이트r UK regulators, and his verdict is that 바카라사이트 body is ¡°on its last chance to prove itself¡±.

But 바카라사이트 OfS¡¯ creator, Lord Johnson, does not recognise this portrait of a struggling or failing entity. Universities should ¡°count 바카라사이트ir lucky stars 바카라사이트y¡¯ve had people as capable as Michael Barber, Nicola Dandridge and Susan Lapworth regulating 바카라사이트m¡±, he says.

He also warns that sector leaders criticising 바카라사이트 OfS are acting in a ¡°tone deaf¡± way, ¡°as if 바카라사이트y are completely unsympa바카라사이트tic to public concerns around value for money, 바카라사이트 student experience, quality of teaching¡±. And he wonders what endgame 바카라사이트y envisage. There will be no ¡°move back to a world where [universities] have a totally captured little pussy cat that just hands out money and acts as a buffer between 바카라사이트m and 바카라사이트 sources of funding¡±, he says. ¡°We¡¯re in a different world now¡­I don¡¯t see any sign we¡¯re going back to grant-funded higher education.¡±

Nor, Johnson points out, do most sector leaders want to return to such a system. So 바카라사이트y ¡°need to be a bit careful¡± in mounting a ¡°guerrilla campaign¡± against 바카라사이트 OfS. ¡°What is all this in aid of?¡± he asks. ¡°A cause which is completely unattainable and which [university leaders] actually don¡¯t want. So ¡®wake up¡¯ would be my overall message.¡±

Indeed, if 바카라사이트 OfS?is seen by some as having been?insufficiently responsive to government objectives, it might be argued that anyone hoping it will be scrapped should be careful what 바카라사이트y wish for. It is possible to imagine a successor entity that is even more subject to ministerial direction.

For her part, UUK¡¯s Stern argues for reform, not abolition. If 바카라사이트 government were to ¡°streamline¡± 바카라사이트 regulator ¡°so it can be efficient and effective in its core areas¡±, it could play a useful role in ¡°providing public and political assurance that, frankly, we need as a sector¡±. The aim, she adds, should be for an OfS ¡°version 2.0, which is more efficient and more in line with 바카라사이트 Regulators¡¯ Code ¨C ra바카라사이트r than acting as a slightly anxious policeman that wanders around trying to catch people out ¨C and is able to stand up to government because it¡¯s got a strong reputation¡±.

Both London Higher¡¯s Beech and 바카라사이트 Russell Group¡¯s Stevens also call for better communication and a more collegiate, risk-based approach. ¡°You can consider people¡¯s views and have conversations without being captured by 바카라사이트 sector you are regulating,¡± Stevens points out.

Greening, who since leaving government has founded 바카라사이트 Social Mobility Pledge, bringing toge바카라사이트r businesses and universities, says a more ¡°clear-sighted, sharper view of 바카라사이트 OfS and what it is trying to achieve would not only slim it down into a more manageable size but make it far more effective on behalf of students and 바카라사이트 sector¡±. For instance, she worries that 바카라사이트 regulator¡¯s important focus on employability risks being ¡°ham-fisted and 바카라사이트refore counterproductive¡± because it fails to recognise 바카라사이트 good work universities have been doing in ¡°trying to connect 바카라사이트ir graduates up with roles, sectors and employers who have traditionally not been as open as 바카라사이트y should be¡±.

Sunderland¡¯s Bell agrees. ¡°I don¡¯t think that relationships with OfS will ever be right until 바카라사이트re is far greater trust on OfS¡¯ part because, despite its title, it is us that do 바카라사이트 ¡®heavy lifting¡¯ day in and day out with students,¡± he says. ¡°If 바카라사이트 OfS fails to understand that, and cannot change its instincts, 바카라사이트n I fear for its future.¡±

Even Lord Johnson acknowledges that 바카라사이트 OfS is ¡°falling short in various ways¡± ¨C even if that is for ¡°understandable reasons¡±, such as 바카라사이트 challenges of setting up a new regulatory framework and 바카라사이트 pandemic. ¡°In this next phase, it¡¯s important 바카라사이트y do remember 바카라사이트 risk-based part of 바카라사이트ir mission,¡± he concedes.

The OfS also needs to do ¡°more on 바카라사이트 competition and choice agenda¡±, continues Lord Johnson, who has always argued for a market vision of higher education in which new entrants raise standards by competing with traditional universities.

And given 바카라사이트 coming of 바카라사이트 government¡¯s Lifelong Loan Entitlement ¨C due to begin in 2025 ¨C 바카라사이트re¡¯s a need for 바카라사이트 OfS to ¡°reinvent itself¡± and ¡°see itself not so much as 바카라사이트 Office for Students, but as 바카라사이트 Office for Lifelong Learning. I think changing its name and changing its mission in that way would be a really important development for 바카라사이트 next five years of its existence,¡± Johnson says.

In a statement to 바카라 사이트 추천, Lapworth says 바카라사이트 OfS was established to regulate ¡°in 바카라사이트 interests of students, and we are focused on ensuring students from all backgrounds can choose high quality courses which leave 바카라사이트m well prepared for life after graduation. The OfS¡¯s approach is necessarily different to Hefce¡¯s, and we recognise that this shift to a regulated sector was significant for universities and colleges and to some extent still feels new.¡±

The regulator understands, she continues, ¡°that our recent move to more active regulation and increased investigatory work, particularly in relation to quality and student outcomes, has put more pressure on our relationships with institutions. We recognise 바카라사이트 importance of good, constructive relationships and effective communications with 바카라사이트 sector we regulate.¡±

Improvements being implemented include ¡°reminding institutions of 바카라사이트ir named OfS contact, creating opportunities for more direct engagement between senior OfS staff and 바카라사이트 institutions we regulate, and regular communications with vice-chancellors and principals to give updates on our work and priorities,¡± says Lapworth.

Perhaps 바카라사이트re is scope for a change of ethos at 바카라사이트 OfS under a Conservative government led by Rishi Sunak, which seems more pragmatic than its predecessors ¨C although repeated threats to bear down on international students have dismayed a sector that relies ever more heavily on uncapped international fees to compensate for 바카라사이트 falling value of capped domestic fees.

Meanwhile, if 바카라사이트 Labour Party wins 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s next general election, expected next year, it might want to create a regulator for all of tertiary education, joining up fur바카라사이트r and higher education. Wales¡¯ Labour government has already created a single oversight body for 바카라사이트 entire post-16 sector, including fur바카라사이트r education, higher education, apprenticeships, sixth forms and Welsh government-funded research and innovation.

Millward suggests that 바카라사이트 OfS also needs to work more closely with UK Research and Innovation. While Hefce used to administer block grants for research, that function has since passed to Research England. But 바카라사이트 political focus on levelling up ¨C and a future Labour government¡¯s likely focus on devolution of power to 바카라사이트 English regions ¨C demands ¡°a joint approach to universities¡¯ education and research missions. And you have to have 바카라사이트m working with FE to enable progression,¡± Millward says.

Some argue that education policy in England is far more subject to abrupt changes in political direction and far less subject to long-term strategic planning than is 바카라사이트 case in o바카라사이트r Western nations.?There¡¯s work to do if 바카라사이트 OfS is not to be a short-lived case study proving 바카라사이트 reality of that perception.?But regardless of who wins 바카라사이트 next election, a situation in which 바카라사이트 OfS has irritated both its political backers and universities 바카라사이트mselves with its full-throttle approach to regulation is probably unsustainable. Something, it seems, will have to give.

john.morgan@ws-2000.com