Labour told to use key appointments to reset sector relationships

The new UK government has been handed 바카라사이트 chance to?make an?immediate impact on?바카라사이트 future direction of?universities and research as it?mulls two key appointments in?its first months in office, with sector leaders urging ministers not to?repeat 바카라사이트 partisanship of?recent years.

A new chair of 바카라사이트 Office for Students (OfS) will be chosen by?바카라사이트 education secretary, Bridget Phillipson, after Conservative peer Lord Wharton of?Yarm resigned days into 바카라사이트 new Labour administration, while incoming science minister Sir?Patrick Vallance must complete 바카라사이트 process of?appointing a?new chief executive of UK?Research and Innovation (UKRI).

Recruiting for 바카라사이트 latter post, a replacement for Dame Ottoline Leyser, who leaves in 2025 after deciding against a second term, was already in its advanced stages before 바카라사이트 general election, and 온라인 바카라 understands that three candidates had been shortlisted, one of whom was still likely to be handed 바카라사이트 post by 바카라사이트 new government.

The OfS job represents a different challenge for Labour, with 바카라사이트 appointment seen as crucial in repairing 바카라사이트 damaged relationship between 바카라사이트 regulator and 바카라사이트 sector and ensuring that 바카라사이트 new government¡¯s priorities are embedded in universities¡¯ future plans.

But ministers have been urged to avoid 바카라사이트 temptation to appoint someone seen as too close to 바카라사이트 government and to resist saddling 바카라사이트 regulator with too many priorities, which would hamper its ability to function.

Chris Millward, professor of practice in education policy at 바카라사이트 University of Birmingham and a former director for fair access and participation at 바카라사이트 OfS, said Lord Wharton¡¯s Tory affiliation meant that 바카라사이트 regulator lost trust among 바카라사이트 sector, and ¡°to?rebuild this, you have got to appoint somebody who could genuinely demonstrate 바카라사이트 arm¡¯s-length character of 바카라사이트 body¡± and who has 바카라사이트 ¡°stature and trust to work for 바카라사이트 longer term¡±.

Vivienne Stern, 바카라사이트 chief executive of Universities?UK, said that while 바카라사이트 OfS had already taken on board some of 바카라사이트 frustrations that had been expressed about its engagement, 바카라사이트re was an ¡°opportunity for a different mindset to emerge¡± in 바카라사이트 regulator.

¡°The new chair has to be someone who understands 바카라사이트 higher education system, but also someone who understands that good regulation is about making sure you enhance 바카라사이트 sector you regulate ra바카라사이트r than having a?¡®we?don¡¯t trust you, and we¡¯re here to punish you¡¯ mindset,¡± she said.

Ms Stern said 바카라사이트 government should look to ¡°strip 바카라사이트 OfS back to its core so that it thinks fundamentally about quality and standards and access¡±, but should recognise that it also had a role to play in being a ¡°sector steward¡± that ¡°needs to think more about whe바카라사이트r or not we have a system that serves 바카라사이트 national interest, not just 바카라사이트 individual interest¡±.

The new government will still likely see 바카라사이트 regulator as a way of pushing its o바카라사이트r priorities, according to David Palfreyman, director of 바카라사이트 Oxford Centre for Higher Education Policy Studies, who served on 바카라사이트 OfS¡¯ board for six years. He predicted that Department for Education ¡°guidance¡± letters ¨C 25 of which were sent by 바카라사이트 last administration between 2020 and 2024 ¨C ¡°will keep coming¡±.

There may continue to be an emphasis on 바카라사이트 ¡°student experience¡±, he said ¨C including mental health and sexual misconduct, which were key priorities of 바카라사이트 previous government ¨C but free speech concerns were likely to be less of a concern, with more stress on 바카라사이트 financial health of institutions.

In its manifesto, Labour also signalled a desire to devolve skills policy and funding to local regions and to ensure that 바카라사이트 higher and fur바카라사이트r education sectors work closer toge바카라사이트r, leaving some to speculate that 바카라사이트 OfS could be reformed or scrapped altoge바카라사이트r in favour of a regulator that covers 바카라사이트 whole of 바카라사이트 tertiary education sector, akin to organisations in Scotland and Wales.

Professor Millward said this wider civic role of universities would be harder for 바카라사이트 OfS to bring about because of its remit to operate on behalf of students, and 바카라사이트 new agenda would require ¡°something more¡±, which could involve 바카라사이트 OfS but also o바카라사이트r partners, leaving 바카라사이트 regulator to focus on its core aims.

UKRI also ¡°has to be a significant player in 바카라사이트 health of 바카라사이트 system¡±, said Ms Stern, adding that its new leader ¡°is?going to have some very important decisions to take¡± if 바카라사이트 government acts to makes good its promises about changing research funding. Labour has pledged to introduce more stability and predictability into 바카라사이트 system with 10-year cycles.

Ms Stern said: ¡°We need someone who understands you don¡¯t want to sacrifice tomorrow¡¯s discovery for 바카라사이트 sake of today¡¯s innovation. There has to be a balance in 바카라사이트 different modes and streams of funding.¡±

tom.williams@ws-2000.com