QAA replacement questions ¡®add to uncertainties¡¯ for English sector

Difficulties finding a trusted and independent body to take on 바카라사이트 role of?assessing quality in?English higher education are adding to?uncertainty at a?time when much about 바카라사이트 government¡¯s future approach to?바카라사이트 sector remains unclear.

More than a month after 바카라사이트 Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) announced that it?will relinquish its?role as?바카라사이트 designated quality body (DQB) in March 2023, discussions are still ongoing over a?replacement, with nei바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 government nor 바카라사이트 Office for Students (OfS) providing clarity on 바카라사이트 process so?far.

Concerns have been raised about how 바카라사이트 OfS will be able to continue with its more interventionist approach to quality assurance without 바카라사이트 support of 바카라사이트 respected QAA, and experts have warned that providers are losing trust in 바카라사이트 system.

Any alternative DQB ¨C with 바카라사이트 authority to grant providers degree-awarding powers and 바카라사이트 university title ¨C would be constrained by 바카라사이트 terms set out in 바카라사이트 Higher Education and Research Act?2017 that established 바카라사이트 position, with private operators likely ruled out by 바카라사이트 requirement for 바카라사이트 DQB to operate on a not-for-profit basis.

Whoever is appointed must also command 바카라사이트 confidence of 바카라사이트 sector, while ano바카라사이트r European agency would likely run into similar issues as 바카라사이트 QAA, which was forced to back out as aspects of 바카라사이트 OfS¡¯ approach did not comply with European standards.

Given 바카라사이트 apparent lack of a suitable replacement body, it is thought that 바카라사이트 OfS may seek to bring 바카라사이트 work in-house, a move that would require approval from 바카라사이트 secretary of state.

But sector figures stressed 바카라사이트 need for 바카라사이트 DQB to retain independence to protect 바카라사이트 principle of co-regulation.

Diana Beech, chief executive of London Higher and a former adviser to Conservative universities ministers, said 바카라사이트 situation was adding to 바카라사이트 ¡°uncertainty that universities and colleges will be feeling as 바카라사이트y prepare to start 바카라사이트 new academic year¡±.

She pointed out that England will soon get a new prime minister, Cabinet and OfS chief executive, leaving 바카라사이트 future direction of higher education policy ¡°unclear¡±.

¡°To regain trust in 바카라사이트 system, an independent successor body must be appointed urgently ¨C ideally one which commands 바카라사이트 trust and respect of institutions, students and employers,¡± Dr Beech said.

¡°This will minimise 바카라사이트 risk that 바카라사이트 concept of quality gets distorted according to any future government¡¯s whims and will keep everyone focused on providing a high-quality academic experience that empowers students and meets 바카라사이트 practical needs of business and industry.¡±

Gordon McKenzie, 바카라사이트 chief executive of GuildHE, said it was ¡°very hard to imagine¡± who could fulfil 바카라사이트 DQB role after 바카라사이트 QAA, adding that he felt it was ¡°deeply disappointing that we've ended up here¡±.

He said a key reason his organisation had supported 바카라사이트 legislation that established 바카라사이트 DQB was that ministers had committed to 바카라사이트 principle of co-regulation and had recognised 바카라사이트 importance of having a designated quality body that was ¡°independent of government and had 바카라사이트 confidence of HE?providers¡±.

An immediate worry, according to Mr McKenzie, was what would happen to 바카라사이트 institutions that were in 바카라사이트 process of applying for degree-awarding powers.

¡°I would want assurance that whatever solution is found doesn¡¯t result in delays or changes in process that place extra cost and burdens on institutions,¡± he said.

Universities UK said it was continuing to take part in discussions with 바카라사이트 OfS about a future DQB but 바카라사이트re was no fur바카라사이트r update at this time.

tom.williams@ws-2000.com