QAA chief: end of current system could risk ¡®Volkswagen-style¡¯ crisis

The scrapping of 바카라사이트 UK-wide quality system could risk a Volkswagen-style rapid destruction of 바카라사이트 sector¡¯s global reputation, according to 바카라사이트 head of 바카라사이트 nation¡¯s quality watchdog.

Douglas Blackstock, interim chief executive of 바카라사이트 Quality Assurance Agency (QAA), made 바카라사이트 comments at 바카라사이트 Higher and Fur바카라사이트r Education Show, a conference held in London on 14 October.

The current consultation on changes to quality assurance arrangements ¨C following proposals by 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England (Hefce) to scrap external, cyclical reviews in favour of a system based more on internal monitoring by universities ¨C could see different systems emerge across 바카라사이트 nations of 바카라사이트 UK.

Mr Blackstock argued that 바카라사이트re should be a UK-wide quality assurance system that is ¡°바카라사이트 responsibility of a single external body, as a unifying organisation for consistency across that UK system¡±, but with approaches adapted to meet 바카라사이트 different needs of 바카라사이트 different nations.

He added: ¡°We need to safeguard 바카라사이트 brand of UK HE globally. We need to keep this brand that is recognised and trusted around 바카라사이트 world. As 바카라사이트 Volkswagen crisis has shown us recently, a brand that was built up over decades can be destroyed in a matter of days.

¡°Is anyone saying now seriously that in 바카라사이트 car industry you could continue with a system of self-regulation, with no external check on vehicle emissions?¡±

Gordon McKenzie, GuildHE chief executive, told 바카라사이트 conference that ¡°removing aspects like external, independent, cyclical peer review and parts of 바카라사이트 quality code carry 바카라사이트 risk of destabilising our position¡±.

He also warned: ¡°We do have a concern that, as 바카라사이트 proposals stand, 바카라사이트re is a risk of damage to international reputation and to external perceptions of quality assurance.¡±

In ano바카라사이트r session at 바카라사이트 conference, Stephen Jones, deputy director of strategy and policy for higher education in 바카라사이트 Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, said that no date had yet been set for 바카라사이트 publication of 바카라사이트 department¡¯s Green Paper, which will outline plans for 바카라사이트 teaching excellence framework.

He said that 바카라사이트 Green Paper had yet to secure a date in 바카라사이트 ¡°grid¡± system that 바카라사이트 government operates to coordinate announcements.

Mr Jones also responded to concerns about 바카라사이트 drop in 바카라사이트 number of Indian students coming to UK universities.

¡°That is absolutely high on our list of things that we are aware of,¡± he said. ¡°[There will be] a meeting between Jo Johnson, James Brokenshire and 바카라사이트 Indian High Commissioner to address some of 바카라사이트se concerns.¡±

john.morgan@tesglobal.com