Learn from Australia¡¯s ¡®regulation traumas¡¯, England urged

England¡¯s continued soul-searching over 바카라사이트 shape and extent of higher education regulation can be aided by looking to Australia, according to 바카라사이트 former head of 바카라사이트 country¡¯s university watchdog, which was also accused of overreach in its early years.

As 바카라사이트 House of Lords finishes its inquiry into 바카라사이트 Office for Students (OfS) ¨C and 바카라사이트 actions of 바카라사이트 regulator continue to be hotly debated by 바카라사이트 sector?¨C a report for 바카라사이트 Higher Education Policy Institute by Anthony McClaran, now vice-chancellor of St Mary¡¯s University, Twickenham, backs 바카라사이트 need for statutory regulation but says it must not be misused.

¡°In my time leading 바카라사이트 main regulator of 바카라사이트 tertiary sector in Australia, I saw how effective good statutory regulation can be,¡± said Mr McClaran, who ran 바카라사이트 Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (Teqsa) from 2015 to 2020.

¡°But it took a few years for Australia to reach its current situation, as 바카라사이트re were initially concerns about regulatory burden, excessive bureaucracy and problematic communication ¨C all of which we now hear from some in England.¡±

Mr McClaran¡¯s report, published on 8 June, highlights how, when he took 바카라사이트 role, TEQSA was still reeling from a critical government-commissioned review, with its future in doubt.

Kwong Lee Dow, former vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Melbourne, and Valerie Braithwaite, emeritus professor of regulatory studies at 바카라사이트 Australian National University, had found Teqsa was perpetuating regulatory burden and a ¡°one size fits all approach¡± as a result of?its complex framework, unclear messaging and poor relationship with 바카라사이트 sector.

While in post, Mr McClaran oversaw 바카라사이트 implementation of 바카라사이트 review¡¯s recommendations including moves to adopt a ¡°genuine¡± risk-based approach, simplifying data requests and adapting 바카라사이트 regulatory?framework so it better suited different kinds of providers.

¡°The lessons from Australia include 바카라사이트 importance of a risk-based approach, sensible ra바카라사이트r than overblown data requests and treating providers as partners ra바카라사이트r than merely objects,¡± said Mr McClaran, who is also a former chief executive of 바카라사이트 UK's Quality Assurance Agency and admissions service Ucas.

Mr McClaran writes in 바카라사이트 report that, when done well, statutory regulation brings several ¡°clear potential advantages¡±: clarity; a sanctions regime; recognition of 바카라사이트 public purpose of institutions; accountability to democratic authorities; and protection for students and o바카라사이트rs.

As 바카라사이트 OfS considers its next steps five years on from its inception, he writes that several lessons can be learned from Australia's ¡°early and somewhat traumatic¡± history of statutory regulation.?

These include 바카라사이트 importance of a regulator securing independence through checks and balances, encouraging rigorous challenge of regulatory judgment and recognising 바카라사이트 role that a regulator can play in delivering sector-wide responses to 바카라사이트 ¡°great 바카라사이트matic challenges¡± of 바카라사이트 day.

Nick Hillman, director of Hepi, said English and Australian higher education systems share much in common but 바카라사이트 Australian system is often ¡°one step ahead¡±.

¡°This clear report shows 바카라사이트 two countries are also tracking each o바카라사이트r when it comes to regulation,¡± Mr Hillman said.

¡°The main Australian regulator, Teqsa, was regularly accused of overstretching itself in its first few years ¨C just as England¡¯s Office for Students is often accused of 바카라사이트 same. But 바카라사이트 situation Down Under has abated and 바카라사이트 Australian experience might 바카라사이트refore offer some useful lessons.¡±

tom.williams@ws-2000.com