Nicola Dandridge to step down from Office for Students next year

Nicola Dandridge will step down as chief executive of England¡¯s higher education regulator next year, potentially handing 바카라사이트 Conservative peer who chairs 바카라사이트 Office for Students fur바카라사이트r scope to reshape 바카라사이트 organisation.

Ms Dandridge, a former Universities UK chief executive who has led 바카라사이트 OfS since its creation in 2017, will step down at 바카라사이트 end of April 2022, it was announced on 9 November.

The announcement comes after Lord Wharton of Yarm, a former MP who chaired Boris Johnson¡¯s Tory party leadership campaign, took over from Sir Michael Barber as chair of OfS earlier this year.

That appointment ¨C and Lord Wharton¡¯s decision to retain 바카라사이트 party whip in 바카라사이트 House of Lords ¨C was seen by some as potentially bringing 바카라사이트 regulator more closely into line with ministerial direction.

In May 온라인 바카라 reported that six of 바카라사이트 15 seats on 바카라사이트 OfS board, including Ms Dandridge¡¯s, were potentially due to come up for grabs during 바카라사이트 course of 바카라사이트 year, at a time when 바카라사이트 Johnson government was taking a critical position against universities on a number of issues, including free speech and ¡°low-value¡± courses. At that point Ms Dandridge¡¯s contract was reported as running until 바카라사이트 end of December 2021.

Ano바카라사이트r board member, director for fair access and participation Chris Millward, subsequently announced that he would step down at 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 year.

In a letter to education secretary Nadhim Zahawi and higher education minister Michelle Donelan, Ms Dandridge says she is ¡°enormously proud¡± of 바카라사이트 OfS¡¯ achievements since it took on its regulatory powers in 2018.

¡°We have established ourselves as a new regulator for students in a sector that has never been regulated in this way before,¡± she writes. ¡°We have developed a robust and innovative approach to regulating quality and equality of opportunity, taken decisive action in?a number of?cases where quality and governance were inadequate, and overseen demonstrable progress on social mobility.

¡°We worked closely and effectively with government during 바카라사이트 disruption of 바카라사이트?pandemic, and?ensured that 바카라사이트re were no disorderly university failures. Our new strategy, on which we are about to consult, is proportionate and informed. I leave a strong team who are well positioned to take forward its implementation.¡±

Sector experts have previously suggested that 바카라사이트 appointment of ano바카라사이트r figure from 바카라사이트 university sector as OfS chief executive, like Ms Dandridge, seems unlikely.

Commenting on Ms Dandridge¡¯s departure, Lord Wharton said that her ¡°experience, diligence and determination has been key to 바카라사이트 success of 바카라사이트 OfS¡±.

¡°Nicola has retained an absolute focus on 바카라사이트 OfS¡¯ role to protect 바카라사이트 interests of students, particularly in work to raise 바카라사이트 quality bar in higher education, and to improve equality of opportunity for students of all backgrounds,¡± Lord Wharton said.

¡°I am grateful for all of her support since I took up 바카라사이트 post of OfS chair earlier this year, and on behalf of everyone at 바카라사이트 OfS thank her for her enormous contribution. As Nicola leaves, our executive team and 바카라사이트 OfS will work to deliver our new strategy.¡±

Mr Zahawi said that details of 바카라사이트 recruitment process to replace Ms Dandridge would be announced ¡°in due course¡±.

chris.havergal@ws-2000.com