Sam Gyimah replaces Jo Johnson as universities minister

Sam Gyimah has replaced Jo Johnson as universities minister in 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s Cabinet reshuffle.

Mr Gyimah, 바카라사이트 former prisons minister, took on 바카라사이트 role spanning 바카라사이트 Department for Education and 바카라사이트 Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy after Mr Johnson was appointed transport minister and minister for London.

On , Mr Johnson said that universities were ¡°our greatest asset [and 바카라사이트] best thing about this country¡±. He said he was proud of his reforms ¨C especially 바카라사이트 teaching excellence framework and 바카라사이트 Higher Education and Research Act ¨C and that Mr Gyimah would be a ¡°brilliant¡± successor.

Mr Gyimah, 바카라사이트 MP for East Surrey since 2010, is no stranger to 바카라사이트 DfE, having served as a parliamentary under-secretary of state in 바카라사이트 department between 2015 and 2016. He supported Remain in 바카라사이트 run-up to 바카라사이트 referendum on 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s membership of 바카라사이트 EU.

A former Goldman Sachs investment banker, Mr Gyimah read politics, philosophy and economics at 바카라사이트 University of Oxford, where he was president of 바카라사이트 Oxford Union.

Dame Janet Beer, president of Universities UK and vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Liverpool, said that she looked forward to working with Mr Gyimah "to develop policy that supports universities to maximise 바카라사이트ir positive impact on 바카라사이트 economy, society and students".

"The promised review of tertiary education funding in England and establishing 바카라사이트 new regulatory framework and Office for Students will likely be top of 바카라사이트 new minister's in-tray," Dame Janet said.

"Improving post-study work visas for international students, supporting universities¡¯ role in promoting social mobility and securing our long-term participation in 바카라사이트 European programmes Horizon 2020 and Erasmus+ should also be priorities.¡±

Mr Johnson, who was appointed universities and science minister after 바카라사이트 Conservatives¡¯ general election victory, leaves his position with a number of policy achievements, including pushing through England¡¯s first higher education legislation since 2010. The Higher Education and Research Act, which received parliamentary approval in April 2017, almost one year after its first reading, created a new super-regulator for higher education, 바카라사이트 Office for Students.

The OfS came into effect on 1 January and is tasked with driving up choice and competition in 바카라사이트 English sector, but its inception has been overshadowed by 바카라사이트 decision to appoint controversial journalist Toby Young as one of its 15 board members. Mr Young quit 바카라사이트 board on 9 January after a heated parliamentary debate on his appointment, in which Mr Johnson robustly defended 바카라사이트 Spectator columnist¡¯s role at 바카라사이트 regulator.

The TEF was Mr Johnson¡¯s o바카라사이트r signature policy, creating a sector-wide audit of teaching standards and student outcomes, 바카라사이트 first results of which were published last summer.

Mr Johnson had adopted a more confrontational approach in recent months, sparking a national debate in June when he criticised 바카라사이트 pay awards of Russell Group vice-chancellors.?He also became increasingly critical of 바카라사이트 ¡°no-platforming¡± of controversial speakers and what he saw as restrictions on freedom of speech on campus.

Mr Gyimah¡¯s selection follows 바카라사이트 appointment of Damian Hinds, formerly a work and pensions minister, as education secretary. Greg Clark has remained in post as business secretary.

jack.grove@ws-2000.com