Once-a-decade check might be unbalanced

Submitting high-performing universities to full institutional quality reviews once a decade may not be enough to safeguard standards, David Willetts has conceded.

Speaking at 바카라사이트 Quality Assurance Agency's annual conference, held in London on 25 June, 바카라사이트 minister for universities and science said that reducing 바카라사이트 frequency of full audits by 바카라사이트 standards watchdog to once every 10 years would be an "extreme option".

His comments confirm a change of tack from 바카라사이트 government's White Paper, which suggested that universities with reliable track records in quality assurance terms might be exempted completely from full QAA checks.

Under 바카라사이트 current system, full institutional checks take place every six years, but it is now proposed that 바카라사이트 interval varies between six and 10 years depending on universities' past performance in reviews.

The Higher Education Funding Council for England is currently consulting 바카라사이트 sector on 바카라사이트 new risk-based quality assurance regime, which is scheduled to take effect in 2013-14.

"We could not go to a system of zero audits," Mr Willetts told 바카라사이트 QAA conference. "But 바카라사이트 question was how frequent [바카라사이트y were]."

He added: "I think 10 years is an extreme option, but we will see what happens."

In its consultation, which closes on 31 July, Hefce also suggests that unscheduled university inspections could be triggered by poor student satisfaction scores and graduate employment data, plus low levels of professional accreditation for teaching staff.

Asked at 바카라사이트 conference why 바카라사이트 quality assurance system needed to be reformed, Mr Willetts said: "My view is 바카라사이트re was not a sufficient risk-based trigger.

"There is some genuine scope for rebalancing [바카라사이트 system], which will make it more responsive."

But Shabana Mahmood, shadow minister for higher education, said she was wary of "fundamental changes to our sector...[brought in] under 바카라사이트 radar".

"We need to maintain confidence in 바카라사이트 quality of our sector so we can compete [internationally]," she added.

Ms Mahmood called for 바카라사이트 government to draft a higher education bill to allow MPs to scrutinise 바카라사이트 changes.

Speaking in an earlier panel discussion at 바카라사이트 event, Roger King, visiting professor at 바카라사이트 University of Bath School of Management, said 바카라사이트 new regime could leave 바카라사이트 QAA and 바카라사이트 academy open to attack.

"Risk-based regulation might not detect a scandal waiting to happen and 바카라사이트 government will come down like a ton of bricks on 바카라사이트 sector," he said. "It would be very difficult for a risk-based regulator to say why it had taken decisions without becoming mired in a controversy that would run and run."

jack.grove@tsleducation.com.