Dozens of QAA jobs ¡®at risk¡¯

Dozens of jobs could be axed by 바카라사이트 Quality Assurance Agency after its role in monitoring standards in English higher education was significantly reduced.

The Public and Commercial Services Union said it had been told that up to 89 jobs were at risk at 바카라사이트 Gloucester-based watchdog, following 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England¡¯s decision to take in-house a significant portion of 바카라사이트 QAA¡¯s work.

The QAA told 온라인 바카라 that it was ¡°difficult to be specific about exact numbers of redundancies¡± at this stage, but that leaving vacancies unfilled meant 바카라사이트 net total of job losses was expected to be ¡°less than 60¡±. The QAA has 195 employees, so even 바카라사이트 lower figure would put a significant proportion of 바카라사이트 agency¡¯s workforce at risk.

Lois Austin, an officer at 바카라사이트 PCS, said that 바카라사이트 union would be scrutinising 바카라사이트 proposals closely. ¡°We will be arguing to save everybody¡¯s job,¡± she said.

The QAA expects its income to drop by about ?4 million, or 26 per cent, in 2016-17.

The agency won four of 바카라사이트 six quality assurance tenders that were offered by Hefce, meaning that it will retain responsibility for reviewing providers hoping to enter 바카라사이트 higher education sector, concerns investigations and English universities¡¯ international activities.

But its workload will reduce significantly because Hefce has decided to abolish cyclical reviews of English universities¡¯ performance against baseline standards, which are currently undertaken by 바카라사이트 QAA, with 바카라사이트 funding council planning to monitor quality itself via assurances from governing bodies and evidence from annual institutional data returns.

Douglas Blackstock, 바카라사이트 QAA's chief executive, said that managers would be ¡°working closely¡± with 바카라사이트 PCS on a new structure for 바카라사이트 agency.

¡°The higher education sector has been changing in recent years, and QAA must adapt to that change,¡± Mr Blackstock said. ¡°We will be a smaller but more sustainable organisation: one that is agile, lean and responds efficiently and effectively to 바카라사이트 needs of our sector.¡±

The QAA said it was hopeful that its reforms would allow it to be recommended as English higher education¡¯s designated quality body, a role set to be created under 바카라사이트 higher education White Paper.

Roger King, former vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Lincoln, said it was ¡°unsurprising¡± that 바카라사이트 QAA was being forced to cut jobs.?

¡°The?QAA needs support from 바카라사이트 sector to achieve 바카라사이트 designated status on offer,¡± Professor King said. ¡°Part of this effort will be directed at demonstrating...that it is efficient and effective and justifies 바카라사이트 fees that Universities UK members fork out for it.¡±

However, Professor King said 바카라사이트 QAA could be ¡°quietly satisfied¡± with 바카라사이트 outcome of 바카라사이트 White Paper, highlighting that 바카라사이트 teaching excellence framework and stronger proposed role for alternative providers may create opportunities for 바카라사이트 agency.?

chris.havergal@tesglobal.com