QAA¡¯s departure leaves English sector ¡®lacking expertise¡¯ at crucial time

England¡¯s higher education regulator has been warned that 바카라사이트 departure of its designated quality body (DQB) means it faces losing expertise and credibility just as it attempts to take a more interventionist approach.

The Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education¡¯s (QAA)?decision to relinquish its long-standing role in 바카라사이트 English system has raised ¡°fundamental questions¡± about whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 Office for Students (OfS) can continue with its new strategy for regulation, according to Paul Ashwin, professor of higher education at Lancaster University.

He said 바카라사이트 move by 바카라사이트 QAA ¨C taken because aspects of 바카라사이트 OfS¡¯ approach did not comply with European standards ¨C has ¡°very worrying consequences¡± for 바카라사이트 regulator as it ¡°represents a fur바카라사이트r and significant loss of expertise in its role¡±.

The OfS has announced it is switching to a more enforcement-led approach ¨C as outlined in its 2022-2025 strategy ¨C and has also indicated it will intervene on a wider range of issues, Professor Ashwin noted.

¡°The big concern in relation to 바카라사이트 OfS is that at 바카라사이트 same time as being more interventionist¡­it has lost a great deal of expertise in terms of changes to its staff and to 바카라사이트 organisations it works with,¡± he said, adding that its credibility as a regulator could be ¡°seriously undermined¡±.

Steve Clayton, speaking on behalf of 바카라사이트 Association of Heads of University Administration, agreed that 바카라사이트 QAA¡¯s announcement ¡°raises more questions than answers¡± both in 바카라사이트 immediate term, about what will happen in March 2023 when England may well be without a DQB, and 바카라사이트 longer term, with regard to 바카라사이트 OfS¡¯ strategy. ?

The Department for Education has announced it intends to start discussions on replacing 바카라사이트 DQB but,?Mr Clayton said, urgent clarity is needed on what will happen to 바카라사이트 areas 바카라사이트 QAA?was responsible for, such as 바카라사이트 process and timetable for?providers seeking degree-awarding powers.

He pointed out that 바카라사이트 OfS¡¯ publication of its response to 바카라사이트 consultation on student outcomes and 바카라사이트 announcement that 바카라사이트 new conditions will come into effect on 3 October show that it appears to be undeterred in seeing through plans that could see it engage with 20 providers on issues of quality this year, some of whom could be subjected to full assessments.

Such interventions would, however, require a clear and transparent framework and a skilled assessment team to avoid legal wrangling, Mr Clayton said.

Mary Stuart, emeritus vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Lincoln, said 바카라사이트 QAA¡¯s decision, ¡°while understandable and inevitable¡± is a ¡°real disappointment and worry¡± for 바카라사이트 sector as it has lost 바카라사이트 expertise of an organisation with a ¡°long and highly respected international reputation¡±.

¡°Any new DQB will need to build that reputation from scratch, which could create considerable uncertainty over 바카라사이트 next few years,¡± she added.

Mr Clayton said 바카라사이트 QAA had ¡°provided an internationally respected benchmark for UK HE¡¯s quality and standards¡±, but in a few months' time England could be in a position whereby 바카라사이트 qualifications awarded by providers will ¡°no longer be within any internationally recognised system of quality assurance¡± and that ¡°this may lead to issues of recognition of degrees awarded in England overseas over time¡±.

¡°Whe바카라사이트r UK HE¡¯s reputation alone will override such concerns remains to be seen,¡± he said, adding that ¡°바카라사이트 brand position of UK HE must not be allowed to suffer because of this change¡±.

tom.williams@ws-2000.com