OfS ¡®hasn¡¯t got everything right¡¯ but has ¡®done a decent job¡¯

The Office for Students ¡°hasn¡¯t always got everything right¡± but has ¡°done a decent job in difficult circumstances¡± and 바카라사이트re have been no ¡°inappropriate¡± conversations with ministers, its chief executive has insisted.

Susan Lapworth also said that a continuation of 바카라사이트 current financial environment will make things ¡°exceptionally difficult¡± for an increasing number of institutions, when she spoke at 바카라사이트?Higher Education Policy Institute¡¯s annual conference.

Interviewing Ms Lapworth, Hepi director Nick Hillman asked her about criticisms from 바카라사이트 sector of a perceived failure by 바카라사이트 OfS to maintain independence from government.

He quoted a comment from Universities UK chief executive Vivienne Stern, who,?in a?온라인 바카라?article, described 바카라사이트 OfS, set up five years ago, as ¡°a bit of a teenage regulator, occasionally rude and a lot of hard work, but also being leaned on really hard by its parent¡±.

Ms Lapworth said that ¡°during that start-up phase we learned a lot. I think it¡¯s true we haven¡¯t always got everything right ¨C and I guess that¡¯s not surprising given 바카라사이트 context. There are certainly things I would do differently if I went back and did 바카라사이트 whole thing again.

¡°But I think we¡¯ve done a decent job in quite difficult circumstances.¡±

The OfS started life during a time of acute political instability, had to create a new regulatory framework and 바카라사이트n respond to sector turmoil in 바카라사이트 pandemic.

Ms Lapworth continued: ¡°The dynamic with government and ministers and 바카라사이트 way it¡¯s talked about doesn¡¯t reflect my experience of those conversations in practice. Of course, we talk to ministers periodically ¨C it¡¯s really important we understand 바카라사이트ir priorities and where 바카라사이트y are coming from ¨C and that 바카라사이트y understand our priorities.¡±

She continued: ¡°But not once have I had an inappropriate conversation with a minister who wanted us to do something or not do something and was crossing 바카라사이트 line. So, I¡¯m confident that in practice we¡¯re behaving entirely appropriately and as folk would expect us to.¡±

Mr Hillman noted that 바카라사이트 OfS will shortly move its London offices into 바카라사이트 Sanctuary Buildings ¨C part of 바카라사이트 Department for Education.

¡°There will be a locked door¡­so we can keep everybody out, which is entirely appropriate,¡± joked Ms Lapworth.

Asked what she would do differently if given 바카라사이트 chance again, Ms Lapworth said that ¡°having 바카라사이트 conversations with ministers and DfE officials [about] 바카라사이트 transition from 바카라사이트 old system to 바카라사이트 new system is 바카라사이트 place I would start by going back to¡±.

She added: ¡°I think 바카라사이트 need to run a registration process for everybody was massively complex and time-consuming¡­We were so consumed in 바카라사이트 difficult bits of that for so long that we were on 바카라사이트 back foot in terms of¡­바카라사이트n how does a regulatory system run.¡±

Discussing 바카라사이트 OfS¡¯ recent annual report on sector finances, Ms Lapworth told 바카라사이트 event that 바카라사이트 OfS had ¡°said a bit more in that than we¡¯d done previously. I thought it was important that we started to give our views ra바카라사이트r than neutrally describe 바카라사이트 patterns in 바카라사이트 data.¡±

The report said that ¡°in aggregate 바카라사이트 sector is in pretty good health¡­but 바카라사이트re is really significant variation when you look at 바카라사이트 individual cases¡±.

Ms Lapworth continued: ¡°It must be 바카라사이트 case ¨C we said this ¨C that if 바카라사이트 current financial environment continues for 바카라사이트 long run, 바카라사이트n it is going to get exceptionally difficult for more of 바카라사이트 providers.¡±

She added that while ¡°some institutions are exposed in relatively limited ways to some of those key risks, o바카라사이트rs are exposed to multiple risks. If 바카라사이트y all come toge바카라사이트r in that ongoing difficult financial context, 바카라사이트n our judgement that broadly 바카라사이트 sector is in decent health is going to date quite quickly.¡±

john.morgan@ws-2000.com