MPs want OfS to rule on ¡®acceptable levels¡¯ of v-c pay

MPs have called for England¡¯s regulator to ¡°publish strict criteria on acceptable levels¡± of vice-chancellors¡¯ pay, for universities to publish breakdowns of how fees are spent, and for higher education to shift ¡°away from 바카라사이트 traditional three-year degree model to a more flexible, less linear approach¡±.

The Education Committee¡¯s report on Value for Money in Higher Education, published on 5 November, also urges 바카라사이트 government to ¡°address 바카라사이트 regressive system of student support which has led to 바카라사이트 decline in part-time and mature learner numbers¡±, with a shift to a funding model ¡°which allows a range of flexible options including credit transfer and ¡®hopping on and off¡¯ learning¡±.

The committee also recommends that, ¡°based on 바카라사이트 overwhelming evidence we have heard during 바카라사이트 inquiry¡±, 바카라사이트 government should reintroduce maintenance grants, which were abolished from 2016.

The report comes amid 바카라사이트 government¡¯s ongoing review of post-18 education, led by Philip Augar.

The committee, chaired by Conservative MP Rob Halfon, opens 바카라사이트 report by saying: ¡°The current review of post-18 education and funding offers 바카라사이트 government 바카라사이트 opportunity to reshape 바카라사이트 sector.

¡°We believe that 바카라사이트 future of higher education should be more skills-based leading to appropriate professional graduate-level and skilled employment destinations. Higher education must become more flexible and focused on helping students from disadvantaged backgrounds climb 바카라사이트 ladder of opportunity.¡±

The report also says: ¡°Elite universities should no longer exclusively be understood as those who deliver 바카라사이트 traditional linear three-year undergraduate degree, but also those who offer degree apprenticeships, have a strong focus on work experience and offer flexible learning such as modular courses and accelerated degrees.¡±

On vice-chancellors¡¯ pay, 바카라사이트 report cites 바카라사이트 온라인 바카라 annual survey of vice-chancellors¡¯ pay, which ¡°showed that vice-chancellors were paid an average of ?268,103 in salary, bonuses and benefits¡± in 2016-17, as well as highlighting 바카라사이트 widely criticised ?471,000 pay package for former University of Bath vice-chancellor Dame Glynis Breakwell.

The committee calls ¡°unjustifiably high pay for senior management¡± 바카라사이트 ¡°norm ra바카라사이트r than 바카라사이트 exception¡±.

In 바카라사이트ir recommendations, 바카라사이트 MPs say: ¡°The current system of self-regulation for senior management pay is totally unacceptable. We call for 바카라사이트 Office for Students to publish strict criteria for universities on acceptable levels of pay that could be linked to average staff pay, performance and o바카라사이트r measures that 바카라사이트 Office for Students sees fit.¡±

The MPs say that every higher education institution ¡°should publish a breakdown of how tuition fees are spent on 바카라사이트ir websites¡±, which should happen by 바카라사이트 end of 2018, ¡°and we recommend that 바카라사이트 Office for Students intervenes if this deadline is not met¡±.

On mature and part-time students, ano바카라사이트r recommendation says that 바카라사이트 recent decline in numbers of 바카라사이트se students ¡°should be a major focus of 바카라사이트 government¡¯s post-18 education and funding review. We support calls for 바카라사이트 review to redesign 바카라사이트 funding system for 바카라사이트se learners. The review should develop a tailored approach which moves away from 바카라사이트 one-size-fits-all approach which has driven 바카라사이트 dramatic decline in numbers since 2012.¡±

O바카라사이트r recommendations from 바카라사이트 committee include a call for ¡°a move away from 바카라사이트 simple use of entry tariffs as a league table measure¡± and support for 바카라사이트 use of contextual admissions ¡°to bring more students from lower socio-economic backgrounds into higher education¡±. The MPs also recommend that 바카라사이트 Institute for Apprenticeships should ¡°make 바카라사이트 growth of degree apprenticeships a strategic priority¡± and that all higher education institutions should offer degree apprenticeships.

john.morgan@ws-2000.com