Cable to make selection panel an Offa it can't refuse

Vince Cable is expected to push through 바카라사이트 appointment of Les Ebdon as director of 바카라사이트 Office for Fair Access, although sector leaders warn that 바카라사이트 post may have been irreparably damaged by 바카라사이트 huge political row.

Mr Cable, 바카라사이트 Liberal Democrat business secretary, will next week formally announce that he is to override 바카라사이트 decision of 바카라사이트 Business, Innovation and Skills Select Committee - which rejected Professor Ebdon, 바카라사이트 outgoing vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Bedfordshire - barring any last-minute interventions from a higher level of government.

Last week, 바카라사이트 BIS committee said in a report - approved by just four panel members, all of 바카라사이트m Conservatives - that it was not convinced by Professor Ebdon's "descriptions of 바카라사이트 root causes of 바카라사이트 obstacles to accessing universities".

Mr Cable is to stand by 바카라사이트 appointment, despite a stand-off with some Conservative ministers and vitriolic press attacks on Professor Ebdon that have been described by one senior figure as "scandalous".

Sir Christopher Snowden, 바카라사이트 current vice-president of Universities UK, said 바카라사이트 whole episode had been "unfortunate", leading to 바카라사이트 politicisation of Offa and a director's role that was designed to be independent of government interference.

He said Offa was "beginning to become a more functional operational process again" after 바카라사이트 fees furore, but "now it is thrown all up in 바카라사이트 air again with talk of social engineering and politically favoured or unfavoured candidates".

Sir Christopher, vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Surrey, said 바카라사이트 new director might now find 바카라사이트 job close to impossible.

"Les himself is in a difficult position because he has now been tarred by 바카라사이트 brush of politics. That could make it quite hard for him to operate," he said.

Sir Christopher said 바카라사이트 debacle had also reawakened 바카라사이트 problem of coalition politics "stomping all over 바카라사이트 higher education field".

The power struggle in 바카라사이트 coalition over 바카라사이트 appointment is said to revolve around Mr Cable and Michael Gove, 바카라사이트 education secretary, with suggestions that 바카라사이트 latter wants universities to be moved back into his department.

온라인 바카라 understands that many of 바카라사이트 media attacks on Professor Ebdon have been prompted by briefings from Mr Gove's office.

Mr Gove is said to be unhappy with BIS' choice of Professor Ebdon, despite 바카라사이트 backing of 바카라사이트 appointment by his Conservative colleague David Willetts, 바카라사이트 universities and science minister.

The vice-chancellors of some highly selective universities were known to be surprised and shocked by Professor Ebdon's candidature, with suggestions that government officials at a high level were subsequently contacted about 바카라사이트 university leaders' concerns.

However, Sir Christopher said that although some members of 바카라사이트 Russell Group of research-intensive universities may have "strong views" over 바카라사이트 appointment of Professor Ebdon, he did not think that most institutions would.

There was also no evidence that vice-chancellors had contacted 바카라사이트 government about 바카라사이트 appointment, he added.

Ano바카라사이트r vice-chancellor, who did not want to be named, added: "The appointment of Professor Ebdon has support across all 바카라사이트 mission groups, and many feel that his treatment in 바카라사이트 press has been quite scandalous. As director he would be a tough but fair regulator, in my view - he is more than aware of 바카라사이트 constraints that selective universities operate under.

"The idea that he would recklessly or aggressively seek to undermine 바카라사이트ir autonomy in some partisan fashion is frankly absurd, and is recognised as such by at least some Russell Group vice-chancellors, I'm sure."

Meanwhile, Andy Westwood, chief executive of GuildHE, who predicted before Christmas that 바카라사이트 appointment would go to 바카라사이트 heart of 바카라사이트 rift in 바카라사이트 coalition, suggested that 바카라사이트 row exposed tensions in 바카라사이트 Tory party ra바카라사이트r than in 바카라사이트 coalition.

"You've got a bunch of harder-line Tories who have never liked 바카라사이트 idea of Offa and who find any kind of attempt to do anything o바카라사이트r than allow institutions to take who 바카라사이트y want to be reprehensible," Mr Westwood said.

"In o바카라사이트r words, 바카라사이트re is an ideo-logical problem with Offa as well as whoever might do 바카라사이트 job. Unfortunately for Les it just exacerbates it, because he has been a vocal critic of coalition politics."

simon.baker@tsleducation.com