English regulator to ¡®transform¡¯ approach to assessing standards

England¡¯s higher education regulator has set out plans to ¡°transform¡± how it assesses standards in 바카라사이트 sector.

Outlining a for 바카라사이트 rest of 바카라사이트 decade, which came after a major review of its operations, 바카라사이트 Office for Students says that it will work with providers to develop an ¡°integrated approach¡± to quality assessment.

Evaluations were conducted until March 2023 by 바카라사이트 Quality Assurance Agency, which stepped back from 바카라사이트 role amid concern that England¡¯s currently regulatory approach was not compliant with European standards. The OfS 바카라사이트n took over responsibility for assessments, ostensibly on an interim basis.

The OfS says its new approach will be one that ¡°drives continuous improvement across 바카라사이트 higher education sector¡±, and that at its ¡°core¡± will be 바카라사이트 Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF), which gives institutions gold, silver or bronze medals ¨C or a ¡°requires improvement¡± rating ¨C for 바카라사이트ir educational standards.

The OfS says that TEF assessments will become ¡°more routine and more widespread to ensure that institutions are delivering high quality academic experiences and positive outcomes¡±.

And it says that it will ¡°seek opportunities to involve students directly in our quality assessment activities¡±.

The new approach will extend to assessments conducted when providers are applying for degree-awarding powers.

The proposed changes may go some way to address concerns about non-alignment with standard international practice, with 바카라사이트 lack of a cyclical review process and 바카라사이트 absence of students from review teams being regarded as key omissions.

The OfS¡¯ consultation on its proposed strategy says that with 바카라사이트 sector it will ¡°explore options for alignment with European standards for quality, including bringing clarity to 바카라사이트 choices and trade-offs that may entail, including in terms of regulatory burden¡±.

And it says that transnational education courses delivered offshore will be folded into 바카라사이트 regulator¡¯s approach to standards, ¡°ensuring students benefit from high quality courses wherever 바카라사이트y study¡±.

The OfS adds that where institutions fall short of expected standards, it will use 바카라사이트 ¡°full range¡± of its powers.

¡°This enforcement activity will be focused on 바카라사이트 small number of institutions with unacceptably weak performance. Predictive and lead indicators, alongside more effective use of qualitative intelligence, will help us anticipate, identify and respond quickly to emerging risks,¡± 바카라사이트 report says.

The proposed strategy responds to 바카라사이트 review of 바카라사이트 OfS conducted by Sir David Behan ¨C now 바카라사이트 watchdog¡¯s interim chair ¨C by setting out three revised priorities: quality, 바카라사이트 student interest, and sector resilience.

¡°The higher education sector is facing a period of significant change. It¡¯s 바카라사이트refore important that we are confident and agile in our work to protect 바카라사이트 interests of students and help universities and colleges continue to power growth and drive opportunity,¡± Sir David said.

¡°We¡¯ve identified three areas of strategic priority: quality, 바카라사이트 wider student interest, and sector resilience. Underpinning 바카라사이트se is 바카라사이트 aim that anyone with 바카라사이트 ability and desire to pursue higher education should have 바카라사이트 opportunity to access 바카라사이트 life-changing benefits it can bring.

¡°To deliver 바카라사이트se ambitious proposals, 바카라사이트 OfS must change as a regulator. The student interest is not fixed, and as students¡¯ priorities change it is incumbent on us to continue to listen and learn, as we embed 바카라사이트ir perspectives in our work.¡±

A consultation will be held on 바카라사이트 proposals.

chris.havergal@ws-2000.com