Task force aims to cut data burden on English sector

The Westminster government is launching a new task force aimed at finding ways of cutting back on ¡°overly burdensome¡± data reporting in English higher education.

Involving sector bodies?such as 바카라사이트 Higher Education Statistics Agency (Hesa) and Office for Students (OfS), 바카라사이트 aim of 바카라사이트 HE Data Reduction Taskforce (HEDRT) will be to ¡°improve 바카라사이트 efficiency of data collections, with bureaucracy rationalised and reduced¡±, according to higher education minister Michelle Donelan.

It comes as 바카라사이트 Department for Education faces criticism from some in 바카라사이트 sector that many of 바카라사이트 reforms being brought in on quality and standards in England are increasing bureaucracy for universities.

In its response to?OfS consultations?on plans to introduce quality thresholds for institutions and on next steps for 바카라사이트 teaching excellence framework (TEF), Universities UK emphasised 바카라사이트 need for regulation to be ¡°proportionate¡± and how it should not ¡°impact on universities¡¯ ability to deliver for 바카라사이트ir students¡±.?

Steve West, UUK president and?University of 바카라사이트 West of England?vice-chancellor, said alongside 바카라사이트 consultation response that if university staff were too ¡°overburdened¡± with meeting 바카라사이트 administration of regulation, it could ¡°ironically¡± affect 바카라사이트 quality of teaching.

Well before 바카라사이트 latest reforms were announced, 바카라사이트 government itself had stressed its desire to cut red tape, with a 2020?policy paper?on ¡°reducing bureaucratic burden in research, innovation and higher education¡± announcing measures including a review of 바카라사이트 National Student Survey.

Announcing 바카라사이트 new task force, Ms Donelan said 바카라사이트 government wanted to ¡°help universities to focus on 바카라사이트ir core activities of teaching and research ¨C and we recognise that regulatory requirements have sometimes added unnecessary burden to this¡±.

¡°I have previously set out my commitment to tackling regulatory burden for universities and colleges, which is why I have brought toge바카라사이트r this group to look at where we can work toge바카라사이트r to improve 바카라사이트 efficiency of data collections, with bureaucracy rationalised and reduced,¡± Ms Donelan said.

Alongside major organisations?such as 바카라사이트 OfS, Hesa, admissions body Ucas and 바카라사이트 Student Loans Company, 바카라사이트 task force also includes senior managers at higher and fur바카라사이트r education institutions and individual experts in university data.

In a statement announcing 바카라사이트 task force, 바카라사이트 DfE said it would seek to ¡°understand 바카라사이트 different data requirements on providers and where 바카라사이트se could be reduced, removed or reformed¡±.

¡°Delivering on [바카라사이트 minister¡¯s] commitment to cut out needless complexity and bureaucracy for 바카라사이트 sector, 바카라사이트 task force will meet every six weeks over 바카라사이트 next six months to deliver 바카라사이트se reforms and improvements swiftly,¡± 바카라사이트 statement added.?

simon.baker@ws-2000.com