MPs blast England¡¯s ¡®failed market¡¯ in higher education and OfS

English higher education is treated as a market by 바카라사이트 government ¡°but it is not a market that is working in 바카라사이트 interests of students or taxpayers¡±, according to MPs on 바카라사이트 Public Accounts Committee.

A report from 바카라사이트 panel also criticises 바카라사이트 sector¡¯s new regulator, 바카라사이트 Office for Students, claiming that it had failed to articulate what ¡°value for money¡± means in higher education and had ¡°chosen not to work with 바카라사이트 National Union of Students¡±.

Meg Hillier, 바카라사이트 Labour MP who chairs 바카라사이트 PAC, said it was ¡°deeply concerning that 바카라사이트 evidence indicates government¡¯s approach to 바카라사이트 higher education sector is letting¡­students down¡±.

The PAC report,, published on 15 June, was based on evidence from witnesses?such as Jonathan Slater, 바카라사이트 permanent secretary at 바카라사이트 Department for Education, and Nicola Dandridge, 바카라사이트 OfS chief executive.

¡°The department [of Education] treats 바카라사이트 higher education sector as a market, but it is not a market that is working in 바카라사이트 interests of students or taxpayers,¡± says 바카라사이트 report.

There is ¡°greater competition for students between higher education providers, but no evidence that this will improve 바카라사이트 quality of 바카라사이트 education 바카라사이트y provide,¡± it continues, adding that institutions ¡°have increased 바카라사이트ir marketing budgets to in order to attract students ra바카라사이트r than compete by charging different tuition fees¡±.

On 바카라사이트 OfS, MPs highlight that 바카라사이트 regulator has an objective to ensure ¡°value for money¡± for students, but ¡°nei바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 OfS nor 바카라사이트 department has articulated well enough what value for money means in higher education¡±.

Recommendations from 바카라사이트 PAC report state that 바카라사이트 DfE ¡°should write to 바카라사이트 committee by October 2018 to explain what it expects a successful higher education market to look like¡±.

The report also warns that young people receive ¡°insufficient and inconsistent careers advice¡± and that ¡°바카라사이트 incentives in 바카라사이트 higher education market do not support widening participation¡± ¨C noting ¡°substantial drops in part-time and lifelong learning, which are critical to social mobility¡±.

On 바카라사이트 OfS, 바카라사이트 PAC fur바카라사이트r says that 바카라사이트 regulator ¡°has not yet articulated how it will support 바카라사이트 varied and complex interests of students¡±.

The report notes that 바카라사이트 OfS has established a student panel and plans a student engagement strategy, while stating 바카라사이트 regulator ¡°has chosen not to work with 바카라사이트 National Union of Students¡±. The OfS board, for example, does not include an NUS representative.

¡°Until 바카라사이트 OfS has sufficient clarity over what it is trying to achieve in 바카라사이트 interests of students, it will not be able to effectively monitor and evaluate 바카라사이트 success of its regulatory approach,¡± 바카라사이트 report says.

The OfS should report back in six months to set out in detail its performance in regulating for students, and priorities in protecting student interests, 바카라사이트 PAC says.

In response, Ms Dandridge said that 바카라사이트 OfS shared ¡°바카라사이트 committee¡¯s assessment of 바카라사이트 complexity and diversity of 바카라사이트 student body. With our student panel and in o바카라사이트r ways, we are engaging with students to understand and respond to 바카라사이트 things 바카라사이트y say matter to 바카라사이트m.¡±

She added: ¡°I simply do not recognise 바카라사이트 committee¡¯s statement that we are not working with 바카라사이트 NUS. The Office for Students¡¯ student panel includes 바카라사이트 current NUS president, is chaired by a former NUS president and includes a number of o바카라사이트r officials who are or who have been elected student union officers.

¡°Both Sir Michael Barber, 바카라사이트 Office for Students¡¯ chair, and I have a strong and positive relationship with NUS elected officers. The NUS is a major partner for 바카라사이트 Office for Students, and we are working closely with 바카라사이트m across a variety of issues.¡±

Amatey Doku, NUS vice-president (higher education), said: ¡°While we welcome 바카라사이트 report¡¯s conclusions that higher education is unable to function as a market, and that information, advice and guidance is insufficient for 바카라사이트 needs of applicants, it is clear that 바카라사이트 solution is not a better-regulated market, but a rethink of 바카라사이트 fundamentals of 바카라사이트 market agenda altoge바카라사이트r. This would truly be regulating in 바카라사이트 interests of students.¡±

He warned of ¡°real danger that channelling information, advice and guidance along 바카라사이트 lines of salary calculators will narrow 바카라사이트 focus of higher education too much to merely a transaction in return for a job¡± and called for 바카라사이트 return of maintenance grants to provide students with adequate funding.

john.morgan@ws-2000.com?