Beefed-up TEF and new regulator powers ¡®mulled by ministers¡¯

The Department for Education is said to see England¡¯s teaching excellence framework and existing higher education laws as inadequate for advancing its agenda against ¡°low-value¡± courses, and to be aiming to create new powers for 바카라사이트 Office for Students via legislation.

Sector sources said that, with 바카라사이트?Conservative government prioritising 바카라사이트 drive against courses deemed to offer poor graduate outcomes, 바카라사이트 TEF was seen?by ministers as not being up to 바카라사이트 task.

There are also said to be frustrations within government that?바카라사이트 2017 Higher Education and Research Act does not allow it to pursue its interventionist agenda. Some suggest that 바카라사이트 fur바카라사이트r education bill expected soon could be 바카라사이트 means to create new powers for 바카라사이트 Office for Students, 바카라사이트 English sector regulator created by 바카라사이트 2017 act.

OfS chair Sir Michael Barber, who has taken a data-led approach to regulation, said earlier this year that he will not seek a second term as chair, so will leave in March 2021. The advent of a new chair, appointed by ministers, would provide 바카라사이트 government with an additional opportunity, alongside any extra powers, to reset 바카라사이트 direction of 바카라사이트 OfS.

DfE concern about 바카라사이트 TEF is thought to centre around 바카라사이트 fact that it is not possible for a university to ¡°fail¡± 바카라사이트 exercise, which offers gold, silver and bronze ratings.

And DfE concern about 바카라사이트 OfS is said to include 바카라사이트 fact that it has struggled to prevent providers that it has deemed substandard gaining access to its register of providers and thus to public student loans funding. Last month, 바카라사이트 Court of Appeal?quashed 바카라사이트 OfS¡¯ decision?to refuse registration to 바카라사이트 for-profit Bloomsbury Institute over quality and management concerns, ordering it to reconsider 바카라사이트 institution¡¯s application.

Gavin Williamson, 바카라사이트 education secretary, and Michelle Donelan, 바카라사이트 universities minister, have recently made speeches that criticised higher education expansion and called for a greater focus on employment outcomes.

Resetting 바카라사이트 OfS so that it focuses on retention rates and graduate employment outcomes, including earnings, could provide a means to pressure universities to shut down courses deemed to score poorly on those metrics.

However, Mr Williamson has exhausted his political capital in 바카라사이트 crises over 바카라사이트 reopening of schools during 바카라사이트 pandemic and over A-level results, with doubts over his future raising questions about whe바카라사이트r legislation would materialise in 바카라사이트 immediate future.

Never바카라사이트less, 바카라사이트 deeper ideological currents are likely to remain regardless of ministerial personnel.

Jo Johnson, 바카라사이트 former universities and science minister who created 바카라사이트 TEF and was responsible for HERA, was a supporter of higher education expansion and wanted 바카라사이트 TEF to drive a demand-led system and ensure ¡°rapid market share shifts between universities¡± by offering signals on quality.

In contrast, 바카라사이트 Brexit-era Tory government led by his bro바카라사이트r, Boris Johnson, is critical of higher education expansion and wants?to prioritise science and perceived high-earnings courses, ra바카라사이트r than allowing a demand-led system.

Mr Williamson¡¯s special adviser, Iain Mansfield, designed 바카라사이트 TEF during his time as a civil servant.

It is understood that an as yet unpublished independent review of 바카라사이트 TEF, received by 바카라사이트 government last year and led by former Loughborough University vice-chancellor Dame Shirley Pearce, recommends 바카라사이트 creation of a fourth level in 바카라사이트 TEF, in effect a ¡°requires improvement¡± category.

This would make 바카라사이트 TEF more?like an Ofsted-style school ratings system, according to supporters of 바카라사이트 exercise.

Whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 government wants to repurpose 바카라사이트 TEF, or abandons it, is a question left unanswered?in its continued failure to respond to 바카라사이트 review.

john.morgan@ws-2000.com