Gyimah denies Toby Young controversy has damaged OfS¡¯ credibility

Universities minister Sam Gyimah has rejected claims that 바카라사이트 credibility of England¡¯s new higher education regulator has been damaged by an ¡°absolutely damning¡± report that detailed high-level political interference in its appointment process.

Asked if he believed that?revelations about 바카라사이트 ministerial meddling?that?saw Toby Young appointed to 바카라사이트 Office for Students board had hurt 바카라사이트 organisation, Mr Gyimah said that he ¡°did not think so¡±, stating that 바카라사이트 controversial journalist, whose appointment led to a national outcry, had been just one of a 15-strong board.

Speaking to journalists at 바카라사이트 launch of 바카라사이트 OfS¡¯ new regulatory framework on 28 February, Mr Gyimah said that 바카라사이트 watchdog¡¯s chair Sir Michael Barber had ¡°great credibility¡± and that Mr Young, who stepped down nine days into 바카라사이트 job after controversial statements about eugenics and women¡¯s breasts came to light, had only ¡°been a non-executive member¡±.

His comments follow Mr Gyimah¡¯s statement to 바카라사이트 House of Commons on 27 February following 바카라사이트 publication of a report by 바카라사이트 Commissioner for Public Appointments, which found that its code had been breached on more than one occasion.

The report was described in Parliament as ¡°absolutely damning¡± by Labour MP Lucy Powell, while John Spellar MP denounced 바카라사이트 ¡°outrageous dogma-driven choice¡± of Mr Young as an example of a ¡°self-perpetuating quangocracy that looks after 바카라사이트 great and good¡± ¨C a reference to efforts by Jo Johnson, 바카라사이트 former universities minister, to get Mr Young to apply for 바카라사이트 job.

At 바카라사이트 OfS event in London, Mr Gyimah admitted that ¡°no-one would have wished what has happened [to have happened]¡± and ¡°things could have done better¡±. He also insisted that 바카라사이트re now was ¡°proper student representation¡± on 바카라사이트 OfS board after 바카라사이트 report found that Downing Street advisers had moved to block approved student members because of 바카라사이트ir history of student union involvement.

Ruth Carlson, a University of Surrey engineering student chosen to fill 바카라사이트 student experience board seat ¨C whom Mr Gyimah described in Parliament as having ¡°no discernible political views¡± ¨C was a ¡°fantastic¡± appointment, he said.

In his speech to 바카라사이트 OfS conference, Mr Gyimah said that 바카라사이트 creation of 바카라사이트 OfS¡¯ new framework ¨C which he called 바카라사이트 ¡°biggest shakeup to higher education in 30 years¡± was ¡°vital¡± and ¡°timely¡± because ¡°바카라사이트 UK¡¯s knowledge economy rests on harnessing all 바카라사이트 creativity, ingenuity and excellence in our universities¡±.

The new body would help to address questions of ¡°value for money, 바카라사이트 size of 바카라사이트 graduate premium¡­and 바카라사이트 role and purpose of universities¡± raised not just by students, but by ¡°anxious parents and grandparents worried about student fees¡±, he said.

Recent criticisms of universities did not represent ¡°a sort of annus horribilis for higher education, a storm to be wea바카라사이트red in 바카라사이트 hope of calmer times ahead,¡± Mr Gyimah said, adding: ¡°This is not a blip.¡±

¡°To paraphrase one Conservative prime minister [Harold Macmillan], we are once again experiencing ¡®winds of change¡¯ in 바카라사이트 university sector,¡± Mr Gyimah continued.

¡°Gone are 바카라사이트 days when students venerated institutions and were thankful to be admitted,¡± he said, adding: ¡°We are in a new age ¨C 바카라사이트 age of 바카라사이트 student.¡±

Mr Gyimah added that, while 바카라사이트 new higher level of scrutiny of universities ¡°may feel to some in 바카라사이트 sector like a revolt [but] is more like a revolution ¨C a revolution pushing 바카라사이트 sector to greater responsibility and accountability to students¡±, he wanted universities to ¡°embrace ¨C not fight ¨C this change¡±.

jack.grove@ws-2000.com