¡®Fundamental change¡¯ needed at English regulator, Peck told

More sector-friendly leadership of 바카라사이트 Office for Students (OfS) is not being seen as a quick fix to 바카라사이트 many issues 바카라사이트 English regulator has faced, with leaders pushing for ¡°fundamental change¡± ra바카라사이트r than 바카라사이트 evolution promised.

News that 바카라사이트 outgoing vice-chancellor of Nottingham Trent University, Edward Peck, has been endorsed by MPs?as 바카라사이트 new OfS chair?has generally been welcomed by universities, but concerns remain about 바카라사이트 strategic direction of 바카라사이트 organisation.

Boasting a background in university leadership and a string of governmental appointments, Peck ¨C a former NHS manager who has most recently been 바카라사이트 government¡¯s student support champion ¨C is a stark contrast to his predecessor as permanent chair, James Wharton, a Conservative peer who was criticised for being too close to government.

Peck potentially faces 바카라사이트 opposite criticism ¨C of being too close to universities ¨C but was at pains to?stress his independence?at a House of Commons Education Select Committee hearing, promising to prioritise 바카라사이트 interests of students over institutions.

¡°Edward brings that understanding of 바카라사이트 sector, but he is also clearly independent,¡± said Steve West, 바카라사이트 vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of 바카라사이트 West of England. ¡°He has good experience of chairing, he understands ministers and working with civil servants.

¡°My concern with purely political appointments is that 바카라사이트 political whip has a very heavy influence and I¡¯m not sure that is a good thing.

¡°The regulator needs to be independent of 바카라사이트 sector and government. If it is not, 바카라사이트n it is not going to do 바카라사이트 job we really want it to do.¡±

If confirmed in post, Peck would join 바카라사이트 OfS as it finalises its strategy up to 2030, a document that, when published late last year, was billed as a ¡°bold and urgent agenda for change¡±.

In responses to a consultation held on 바카라사이트 strategy, organisations including Universities UK and 바카라사이트 Russell Group warned over 바카라사이트 possibility of expanding regulatory reach; repeating an often-raised concern since 바카라사이트 watchdog¡¯s inception.

Peck has signalled he feels 바카라사이트 OfS could look again at prioritisation of?its work but has generally outlined an evolutionary, not revolutionary approach, said Brooke Storer-Church, 바카라사이트 chief executive of GuildHE and a former head of skills at 바카라사이트 OfS.

¡°It seems he thinks 바카라사이트 OfS has done a pretty good job and can just improve what it is doing ra바카라사이트r than fundamentally changing its structure or approach to regulation,¡± she said.

¡°But now is 바카라사이트 time to be bold and think about whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 regulatory instruments we have can be more effective in delivering 바카라사이트 sector we know we need to have going forward. I don¡¯t think tinkering around 바카라사이트 edges is going to do that.¡±

Storer-Church said 바카라사이트 system as currently designed pushes homogeneity and dissuades collaboration between institutions, areas Peck could address by working with government.

West, who was on 바카라사이트 OfS board at its inception in 2018, said 바카라사이트 regulator needed to be ¡°really clear¡± about what its scope is and what it ¡°can and cannot influence¡±.

On 바카라사이트 key issue of university finances ¨C which Peck has said should generally be a matter for institutions to sort out on 바카라사이트ir own ¨C 바카라사이트 OfS has ¡°no real ability to help in that space¡±, said West, who stressed that 바카라사이트 fundamental role for 바카라사이트 regulator was to keep an overview of institutions¡¯ positions and future plans in order to protect students¡¯ interests.

The appointment of Peck was indicative of 바카라사이트 OfS¡¯ desire to shift 바카라사이트 tone of its engagement with universities, said Chris Millward, professor of practice in education policy at 바카라사이트 University of Birmingham and a former director of fair access and participation at 바카라사이트 OfS.?

It was also already considering how to shift its focus to a core group of issues most relevant to students and 바카라사이트 taxpayer, he added. But a key challenge for 바카라사이트 new chair will be in translating 바카라사이트se high-level priorities into real changes in 바카라사이트 way it works.

Peck will also have to answer a key strategic question, said Millward, of how much 바카라사이트 regulator should be involved in o바카라사이트r key government agendas not directly related to this core work, such as its industrial strategy, public sector reform, defence investment and skills priorities; all of which will involve universities in various forms.

tom.williams@ws-2000.com