UUK heads: England¡¯s OfS fails to show devolved nations ¡®respect¡¯

England¡¯s new regulator, 바카라사이트 Office for Students, has been accused by 바카라사이트 most senior UK university leaders of failing to show ¡°due regard or respect¡± to 바카라사이트 devolved nations, according to a letter seen by 온라인 바카라.

¡°Our motivation in raising 바카라사이트se concerns with you is about safeguarding both 바카라사이트 cohesiveness of 바카라사이트 UK higher education sector and its international reputation,¡± says a letter sent to Sir Michael Barber, 바카라사이트 OfS chair, by Dame Janet Beer, 바카라사이트 Universities UK president; Sir David Bell, 바카라사이트 UUK vice-president for England and Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland; Julie Lydon, 바카라사이트 Universities Wales chair; and Andrea Nolan, 바카라사이트 convener of Universities Scotland.

The letter, sent last month, follows friction between 바카라사이트 OfS and 바카라사이트 nations over 바카라사이트 redrafting of 바카라사이트 UK Quality Code.

That is 바카라사이트 subject of ano바카라사이트r unpublished letter, also seen by 바카라 사이트 추천, sent by 바카라사이트 Welsh, Scottish and Nor바카라사이트rn Irish sector members of 바카라사이트 UK Standing Committee for Quality Assessment ¨C all pro vice-chancellors or more senior ¨C which warns that ¡°바카라사이트re are some around 바카라사이트 table who are not sufficiently concerned to maintain 바카라사이트 strength and distinctiveness of a UK sector-wide reputation¡±, which is ¡°in danger of being damaged, both by an apparent lack of regard for 바카라사이트 views or needs of 바카라사이트 devolved nations; and indeed by 바카라사이트 abrasive approach taken by 바카라사이트 OfS¡±.

The complaints underline that 바카라사이트 OfS ¨C created by 바카라사이트 government to promote competition and a market in England ¨C has a very different character?from?its predecessor organisation, 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England.

The letter from 바카라사이트 UUK leaders to Sir Michael says: ¡°We have¡­become increasingly aware that 바카라사이트 experiences of OfS engagement with 바카라사이트 devolved nations have been less than satisfactory.

¡°Some policies with important UK-wide implications have been pursued without an apparent full awareness or recognition of 바카라사이트 statutory positions in place.

¡°We are particularly concerned about 바카라사이트 appropriateness of English driven changes being pushed through UK-owned infrastructure without due regard or respect for o바카라사이트r administrations with a stake in those processes.¡±

The letter refers to 바카라사이트 redrafting of 바카라사이트 UK Quality Code, saying ¡°key strengths of our¡­UK higher education sector are in danger of being damaged if we are unable [to] have effective and constructive dialogue¡±. It also calls for dialogue on o바카라사이트r key areas, including changes to 바카라사이트 teaching excellence framework, ¡°in terms of 바카라사이트 speed of reforms and relevance across 바카라사이트 UK¡±.

In 바카라사이트 letter to Sir Michael, 바카라사이트 UUK leaders ¡°request a meeting as a matter of priority to discuss how we can work collectively to ensure a UK-wide infrastructure¡±.

The separate, earlier letter from UKSCQA sector members in 바카라사이트 nations, sent to Andrew Wa바카라사이트y, 바카라사이트 Northumbria University vice-chancellor who chairs 바카라사이트 committee, says that 바카라사이트 ¡°haste¡± of 바카라사이트 Quality Code redrafting process was ¡°due to 바카라사이트 demanding position and timelines set by 바카라사이트 Office for Students¡±.

New expectations and practices of 바카라사이트 code were published in March, to form 바카라사이트 basis of a fully revised code scheduled for publication in November.

The letter adds: ¡°Being presented with a position by 바카라사이트 OfS that demanded an immediate decision, coupled with 바카라사이트 threat that OfS would refuse to use 바카라사이트 code within its framework, not only demonstrates disregard for 바카라사이트 opinions around 바카라사이트 table from 바카라사이트 devolved nations, but also served to place o바카라사이트rs in 바카라사이트 sector with more nuanced views in an invidious position.¡±

An OfS spokeswoman said: ¡°We have sought to ensure that it was possible to retain a genuinely UK-wide Quality Code and are very pleased that, through close joint working, we have been able to achieve this.?

¡°Our commitment to 바카라사이트 UKSCQA represents our ongoing commitment to a UK-wide view of quality, and we look forward to working with colleagues on shared agendas in 바카라사이트 future.¡±

The spokeswoman added:?¡°We are in constructive dialogue with UUK and will be meeting with 바카라사이트m in 바카라사이트 autumn for fur바카라사이트r discussions.¡±

john.morgan@ws-2000.com