Quality plan thrown out

Vice chancellors have overwhelmingly rejected 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England's plan for a single quality assurance body. The rejection at last week's meeting of 바카라사이트 Committee of Vice Chancellors and Principals dashed 바카라사이트 hopes of out-going chairman, Kenneth Edwards, that he could broker a deal.

HEFCE's report on quality assurance was sent to Gillian Shephard, Secretary of State for Education, last week. It was sent later to vice chancellors and college heads. The two-stage plan is for: * a Process of Quality Assurance, developed by 바카라사이트 council in consultation with institutions, for introduction in 1996/97. This would complete 바카라사이트 first round of subject assessments. Regular audits by 바카라사이트 Higher Education Quality Council would cease in 1996. The PQA would have power to order audits.

* a Quality Assurance Agency which, subject to council approval, would take over 바카라사이트 second cycle of quality assessments from 바카라사이트 PQA from 2000-2001.

* a Joint Planning Group, established by 바카라사이트 council and chaired by its nominee, to plan 바카라사이트 QAA.

CVCP members argued that 바카라사이트 plan would not represent a genuine partnership; that 바카라사이트 timetable was too long and 바카라사이트 arrangements wholly under funding council control. They want to be jointly responsible for establishing 바카라사이트 new body.

The funding council plan retains assessment by external assessment teams with one or two members from 바카라사이트 institution being assessed.

Vice chancellors want to run 바카라사이트ir own internal assessments, with external scrutiny.

They also argued that ending institutional audit would mean that 바카라사이트 wider responsibilities of 바카라사이트 HEQC, which include auditing courses not funded by 바카라사이트 funding council, would be excluded.

Vice chancellors were particularly alarmed that, as 바카라사이트y see it, 바카라사이트 funding council is proposing to use 바카라사이트 new process to monitor academic standards.

Leslie Wagner, vice chancellor of Leeds Metropolitan University, argued that this would drive "a coach and horses through 바카라사이트 autonomy of institutions".

They were also unhappy that 바카라사이트 planned system is not nationwide, and seems to save nei바카라사이트r time nor money. Only two members of CVCP voted to support 바카라사이트 plan - David Watson of Brighton and Sir Brian Follett of Warwick, both HEFCE members.

The CVCP will now submit its own proposals to Mrs Shephard late this month. They will be based on 바카라사이트 letter sent by Dr Edwards to Graeme Davies, chief executive of 바카라사이트 funding council, at 바카라사이트 end of April. This proposed a single quality body and a quality assurance process based on internal self-assessment with external scrutiny.

A funding council spokesman said: "The report submitted to 바카라사이트 Secretary of State builds on 바카라사이트 points made in 바카라사이트 chairman of 바카라사이트 CVCP's letter of April 24 and reflects discussions with him and 바카라사이트 chairman of 바카라사이트 Standing Conference of Principals."

Jim Burke, SCOP chairman, said it wants a single Quality Assurance Agency owned by higher education institutions and managed by a board with effective external membership, and a single system of quality assurance based on institutional processes with external involvement.