Nicola Dandridge to be CEO of England¡¯s Office for Students

The first chief executive of England¡¯s Office for Students will be Nicola Dandridge, 바카라사이트 current chief executive of Universities UK.

Ms Dandridge will leave UUK on 1 September, after eight years at 바카라사이트 organisation, to take up her post at 바카라사이트 powerful new regulator for 바카라사이트 English sector, it was announced on 5 July.

At 바카라사이트 OfS she will join Sir Michael Barber, 바카라사이트 former education adviser at Pearson and head of 바카라사이트 Prime Minister¡¯s Delivery Unit under Tony Blair, who had already been appointed as chair of 바카라사이트 regulator.

The government has said that 바카라사이트 OfS ¨C created as a market-style regulator by 바카라사이트 Higher Education and Research Act ¨C will promote choice and competition and act in 바카라사이트 interests of students. It will replace 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England and 바카라사이트 Office for Fair Access.

It is thought that Ms Dandridge¡¯s support for 바카라사이트 teaching excellence framework and her perceived ability to ¡°take 바카라사이트 sector with her¡± on such major changes were key factors in her appointment by ministers.

Universities are likely to be reassured by 바카라사이트 appointment, given that 바카라사이트 OfS could have been more of a disruptive force had a figure from a market background been chosen as chief executive. And Ms Dandridge ¨C who studied at 바카라사이트 University of Oxford before taking law qualifications at London Metropolitan University and 바카라사이트 University of Glasgow ¨C brings deeper knowledge of 바카라사이트 sector than Sir Michael.

However, her role at an organisation intended to act in 바카라사이트 student interest may be seen as problematic by some, given her role leading UUK, 바카라사이트 vice-chancellors¡¯ lobbying organisation. She was a pivotal figure for 바카라사이트 sector in 2010 as 바카라사이트 coalition government formulated 바카라사이트 trebling of fees to ?9,000.

"I like Nicola Dandridge, but she is 바카라사이트 wrong choice for head of 바카라사이트 Office for Students," said Lord Adonis, 바카라사이트 former education minister.?"She is a lobbyist for 바카라사이트 universities and in particular 바카라사이트 vice-chancellors. What's needed is a poacher not gamekeeper."

However, Jo Johnson, universities and science minister, said Ms Dandridge¡¯s ¡°knowledge and experience of 바카라사이트 higher education system makes Nicola an excellent choice to work alongside Sir Michael Barber at 바카라사이트 helm of 바카라사이트 OfS".

Sir Michael said that Ms Dandridge was "absolutely passionate about student success, in terms of academic excellence and employability". "She will bring 바카라사이트 student perspective to everything she does," Sir Michael said.

Dame Julia Goodfellow, UUK president and University of Kent vice-chancellor, said that she was "delighted that someone with Nicola¡¯s experience of and enthusiasm for higher education has been appointed to shape and lead 바카라사이트 Office for Students".

Alongside Ms Dandridge's appointment, 바카라사이트 government said that Martin Coleman, a competition lawyer, had been appointed deputy chair of 바카라사이트 OfS.

UUK aims to announce its new chief executive ahead of its annual conference in early September.

john.morgan@ws-2000.com