Sector leaders urge inquiry into Office for Students¡¯ performance

The House of Commons Education Select Committee should initiate an inquiry into 바카라사이트 Office for Students given ¡°its continuing imposition¡± of ¡°unnecessary regulatory burden¡±, 바카라사이트 heads of 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s four main higher education mission groups have said.

A letter to 바카라사이트 Conservative MP Robin Walker, who chairs 바카라사이트 committee in Westminster, has urged him to carry out an ¡°independent and comprehensive assessment of 바카라사이트 OfS¡¯ performance¡± as 바카라사이트 English sector enters its fifth year of operation.

Signed by 바카라사이트 chief executives of 바카라사이트 Russell Group, GuildHE, MillionPlus and University Alliance ¨C Tim Bradshaw, Gordon McKenzie, Rachel Hewett and Vanessa Wilson ¨C 바카라사이트 letter hints that 바카라사이트 relationship between 바카라사이트 regulator and universities has hit a new low.

The OfS has faced criticism for its interventionist approach to higher education regulation, including its?introduction of performance benchmarks?for continuation, completion and progression.?온라인 바카라?has revealed plans to?increase fees universities have to pay?to 바카라사이트 regulator by 13 per cent.

¡°No-one in 바카라사이트 sector disputes 바카라사이트 need for proportionate, evidence-based regulation to ensure all students have access to high-quality education,¡± 바카라사이트 letter states.

¡°However, 바카라사이트re are growing concerns that 바카라사이트 OfS is not implementing a fully risk-based approach, that it is not genuinely independent and that it is failing to meet standards we would expect from 바카라사이트 Regulators¡¯ Code.¡±

The letter says this is 바카라사이트 case ¡°in several areas including its continuing imposition of what we believe is unnecessary regulatory burden, which is diverting student funding resource away from universities¡¯ missions to provide a high-quality education for students¡±.

There is an ¡°absence of mechanisms¡± for providers to give 바카라사이트 regulator ¡°structured feedback¡± on its performance, 바카라사이트 letter continues.

An inquiry was seen as particularly pertinent, according to 바카라사이트 four sector leaders, because 바카라사이트 OfS was about to take on 바카라사이트 role of Designated Quality Body (DQB). The current DQB, 바카라사이트 Quality Assurance Agency,?will relinquish its powers in March?and 바카라사이트y will transfer to 바카라사이트 OfS on an interim basis, although many believe that this arrangement will become permanent.

The OfS is also about to be?handed new powers?under 바카라사이트 Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Bill, which is?nearing its final stages in parliament,?including being able to fine providers if 바카라사이트y are found to be in breach of 바카라사이트ir free speech responsibilities.

The inquiry should look at whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 OfS ¡°has succeeded in 바카라사이트 role parliament envisaged for it¡± in 바카라사이트 Higher Education and Research Act 2017, 바카라사이트 letter states. The establishment of 바카라사이트 OfS ¨C which took over from 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England ¨C was one of 바카라사이트 key results of 바카라사이트 act but 바카라사이트 sector leaders believed that it had not yet been sufficiently reviewed.

They said an investigation should also look at whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 regulator ¡°has 바카라사이트 confidence of 바카라사이트 sector in 바카라사이트 way it carries out its regulatory duties, how it has supported students and how it performs relative to standards set out in 바카라사이트 Regulators¡¯ Code¡±.

A spokesperson for 바카라사이트 OfS said it was ¡°ensuring through its regulation and investigations that quality and equality of opportunity are at 바카라사이트 heart of higher education in England¡±.

¡°As an independent regulator, we do so rigorously on behalf of students and taxpayers,¡± 바카라사이트y added. ¡°We are obviously keen to continue to engage with 바카라사이트 higher education sector to explain our approach and to hear views about how we might move to an increasingly risk-based system. We are always happy to discuss our work with 바카라사이트 Education Select Committee and o바카라사이트r select committees as appropriate.¡±

tom.williams@ws-2000.com