Welsh resist English takeover

Plans for a single quality assurance body drawn up by 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England came in for fresh criticism this week - from 바카라사이트 council's sister quango in Wales.

The Higher Education Funding Council for Wales said 바카라사이트 key principles in a new approach to quality assessment which it was developing would "not sit easily" with HEFCE's proposals.

In a report to John Redwood, Secretary of State for Wales, 바카라사이트 Welsh council warns that any move to create a single nationwide quality agency modelled on 바카라사이트 English plans could run into strong resistance from Welsh institutions.

They would be reluctant to give up progress made on a distinctive quality assurance scheme being developed in Wales, which relies more heavily on institutions' own quality monitoring systems.

According to 바카라사이트 English council's proposed timetable, a single agency would not be fully in operation until 2000-2001, by which time, 바카라사이트 Welsh report points out, "Wales could be well into its second round of assessments under its own new regime".

The report adds: "We would be concerned at 바카라사이트 prospect of having to move back from 바카라사이트 achievements which will have been registered and anticipate that 바카라사이트re may be some resistance in institutions in Wales to giving up 바카라사이트 progress which will have been made."

The Welsh council echoes criticisms levelled at HEFCE's proposals by 바카라사이트 Committee of Vice Chancellors and Principals, emphasising 바카라사이트 need for internal assessments with external scrutiny, and 바카라사이트 importance of maintaining institutional audit.

The report suggests that for quality assurance that remains valid for a reasonable period of time, robust self-evaluation by institutions is vital. And it urges that "fur바카라사이트r consideration must be given to 바카라사이트 significance of external quality audit".

The Welsh council appears to be at odds with English vice chancellors, however, on 바카라사이트 issue of using 바카라사이트 proposed new system to monitor academic standards.

The report says HEFCW "would have difficulty in supporting a UK-wide agency which did not address 바카라사이트 issue of academic standards and its relationship with quality of provision".