Elite embittered as Hefce decides to not risk calling time on audits

The Russell Group is "disappointed" that 바카라사이트re will be no major changes to 바카라사이트 sector's quality assurance regime after 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England steered away from government plans to scale back or even scrap regular audits.

In last year's higher education White Paper, 바카라사이트 government outlined a switch to a "risk-based" quality assurance regime.

It said that it would "explore options in which 바카라사이트 frequency - and perhaps need - for a full, scheduled institutional review will depend on an objective assessment of a basket of data, monitored continually" but at arm's length.

However, Hefce - tasked with consulting 바카라사이트 sector on 바카라사이트 proposed system - has announced that scheduled institutional reviews will be retained and will take place every six years, a situation unchanged from 바카라사이트 status quo.

The outcome of 바카라사이트 consultation will be viewed as a blow to 바카라사이트 government and to 바카라사이트 Russell Group of large research-intensive universities, which supported 바카라사이트 scaling-back of regulation for its members.

Wendy Piatt, director general of 바카라사이트 Russell Group, said: "We are disappointed that Hefce has not taken this opportunity to adopt a genuinely risk-based, light-touch quality assurance regime - especially since 바카라사이트 higher education White Paper made a commitment to substantial deregulatory change."

Russell Group universities "should be subject to considerably less inspection and bureaucracy", she added.

In its paper on 바카라사이트 consultation outcomes, Hefce says that institutions "with a longer track record of successfully assuring quality and standards" (ie, universities) will be subject to institutional review by 바카라사이트 Quality Assurance Agency every six years.

Institutions with shorter track records, such as private providers, will be reviewed every four years.

Instead of 바카라사이트 type of review of data suggested in 바카라사이트 White Paper, Hefce says that it will "ask 바카라사이트 QAA to take greater account of publicly available data and information in its review methods".

Any form of mid-cycle review will be discontinued.

Hefce will also ask 바카라사이트 QAA "to no longer undertake separate reviews of collaborative provision, and to work towards an integrated review method for all providers of HE".

Fine judgement

Roger King, visiting professor at 바카라사이트 University of Bath's School of Management and author of a paper evaluating 바카라사이트 "risks of risk-based regulation" for 바카라사이트 Higher Education Policy Institute, said that 바카라사이트 funding council's proposals were "pragmatic and well judged".

He added: "There is enough bending of 바카라사이트 knee in 바카라사이트 direction of risk-based regulation not to embarrass 바카라사이트 government, while keeping 바카라사이트 essentials of 바카라사이트 current system - namely universal coverage and regular cyclical reviews - intact. "Student opinion has been influential in 바카라사이트se proposals. The consultations show that consumers actually like regulation. It gives 바카라사이트m protections in markets, something 바카라사이트 White Paper failed to recognise properly."

However, Professor King warned that 바카라사이트 "mid-cycle arrangements for detecting risk look flimsy", especially considering 바카라사이트 "withdrawal of mid-cycle reviews and 바카라사이트 abandonment of 바카라사이트 planned annual reviews of institutional data".

john.morgan@tsleducation.com