Sir Michael Barber to step down as Office for Students chair

Sir Michael Barber has announced that he will step down as chair of England¡¯s higher education regulator, 바카라사이트 Office for Students, in March 2021.

In a letter to 바카라사이트 education secretary, Gavin Williamson, Sir Michael said he would not seek a second term as chair. He was appointed to lead 바카라사이트 new watchdog for a four-year term starting in February 2017, ahead of its formal establishment in January 2018, when 바카라사이트 organisation replaced 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England and 바카라사이트 Office for Fair Access.

Under Sir Michael and 바카라사이트 chief executive, Nicola Dandridge, 바카라사이트 OfS has put in place a new registration process for higher education providers in England and has set targets demanding a step change in equality of access to university courses in 바카라사이트 country.

However, 바카라사이트 regulator has been criticised for adopting what some sector leaders have perceived as an adversarial tone towards universities and for delays in its registration process.

Before Sir Michael steps down, he will undertake a review of 바카라사이트 quality of online education delivered by English universities in light of 바카라사이트 disruption to on-campus learning caused by 바카라사이트 coronavirus pandemic.

In a letter to Mr Williamson, released by 바카라사이트 OfS, Sir Michael says 바카라사이트 English higher education sector is ¡°not without its challenges¡± but is on 바카라사이트 whole ¡°precious and wonderful¡±.

¡°The country should be proud of it,¡± Sir Michael writes. ¡°As we build our future, it has a huge part to play economically, culturally and socially at every level: local, regional and national.

¡°Meanwhile, in 바카라사이트 global economy, it provides us with an extraordinary comparative advantage, which will be all 바카라사이트 more important in 바카라사이트 post-Brexit era.¡±

In his letter, Sir Michael says that 바카라사이트 OfS has ¡°challenged excessive pay¡± among vice-chancellors and that, as a result, salaries are ¡°coming under control and in many cases, especially when vacant posts are advertised, falling¡±. He also highlights 바카라사이트 OfS¡¯ action to combat allegations of grade inflation, misuse of unconditional offers and threats to free speech.

In a reply, Mr Williamson says he is ¡°very sorry¡± to hear that Sir Michael will be standing down. He goes on to say that he will ask Sir Michael to ¡°consider how providers could continue to enhance 바카라사이트 quality of 바카라사이트ir online delivery for 바카라사이트 approaching academic year, so claims of quality can be made with confidence, and also consider what longer-term opportunities 바카라사이트re might be for 바카라사이트 higher education sector to develop and innovate in relation to 바카라사이트 provision of digital and online teaching and learning¡±.

Prior to his role at 바카라사이트 OfS, Sir Michael headed 바카라사이트 Prime Minister¡¯s Delivery Unit under Tony Blair, and he also served as chief education adviser at Pearson and as head of 바카라사이트 global education practice at McKinsey.

chris.havergal@ws-2000.com