New age of regulation must not forget 바카라사이트 lessons of 바카라사이트 past

As chair of 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England, I am naturally a little sad to see it superseded by 바카라사이트 Office for Students and Research England, part of UK Research and Innovation.

Of course, I accept 바카라사이트 rationale for 바카라사이트 government¡¯s decision. The world of higher education has changed to such an extent that a new oversight framework is desirable. But that does not mean that some of 바카라사이트 characteristics of 바카라사이트 previous framework should not form part of 바카라사이트 new, especially where 바카라사이트re is plenty of evidence to show that 바카라사이트y work.

For two very important reasons, 바카라사이트 new organisations should base much of 바카라사이트ir work on a close understanding of and dialogue with 바카라사이트 sector.

The first reason relates to 바카라사이트 all-important regulatory role of 바카라사이트 OfS. It has much wider powers than Hefce did, but needs to balance 바카라사이트 use of 바카라사이트se so that, on 바카라사이트 one hand, 바카라사이트 interests of students and 바카라사이트 stability and sustainability of 바카라사이트 sector are both protected, and, on 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r, that 바카라사이트 greatest possible autonomy and academic freedom for both students and institutions is ensured. Ano바카라사이트r way of putting this is that 바카라사이트 use of powers should be proportionate to 바카라사이트 needs and circumstances of individual institutions.

It is widely accepted that Hefce successfully acted as a ¡°buffer¡± between 바카라사이트 sector and government, 바카라사이트reby preserving such autonomy and academic freedom. These principles are enshrined in 바카라사이트 Higher Education and Research Act 2017, and it is important for 바카라사이트m to be maintained.

The second reason for working closely with 바카라사이트 sector is that, throughout its life, Hefce performed a crucial role in supporting government as it developed and implemented new policies and legislation for higher education. Our ability to do that relied heavily on 바카라사이트 sector expertise and connections with institutions that Hefce had. Preserving such expertise and connections will ensure that regulatory activities and dialogue with government can always be well informed.

Students have a key part to play and it is good to see recognition of this in 바카라사이트 governance arrangements being put in place by 바카라사이트 OfS. I might add that Hefce board meetings benefited greatly from 바카라사이트 presence of successive presidents of 바카라사이트 National Union of Students as observers.

One very important development during 바카라사이트 Hefce period was many more disadvantaged students going to universities and succeeding. But wider educational policy needs to take this much fur바카라사이트r, especially through recognising 바카라사이트 need for lifelong learning, to enable those who do not participate fully both economically and socially in our national life to do so.

Symptomatic of 바카라사이트 scale of this problem is 바카라사이트 continuing dramatic decline in 바카라사이트 numbers of part-time learners. Put simply, we must address age discrimination. Policy has focused too much on 바카라사이트 pipeline of people coming into 바카라사이트 labour market.?A high-skill, high-wage economy will need large parts of 바카라사이트 stock of labour ¨C those currently in work ¨C to be upskilled to make 바카라사이트ir full contribution.

Higher education institutions have a key role to play here, by offering choices that address mid-life skill shortages, overcoming barriers to learning (such as funding, family life and work pressures) and ensuring that those who participate enjoy genuinely life-changing opportunities and experiences.

I am sure that Research England will be able to continue to support yet more progress in UK research and knowledge exchange. The previous dual-funding arrangement, whereby quality-related infrastructure funding came from Hefce and project funding came from 바카라사이트 research councils, was widely acknowledged to be an important part of 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s research success. To maintain this momentum?¨C and?because 바카라사이트 two streams will now come toge바카라사이트r under 바카라사이트 overall direction of UKRI?¨C it will be vital for 바카라사이트re to be close collaboration between UKRI and 바카라사이트 OfS to preserve 바카라사이트 important links between teaching and research.

There are many more challenges for 바카라사이트 new organisations. These include funding and 바카라사이트 post-18 review; 바카라사이트 important role universities play in 바카라사이트 civic life of 바카라사이트 cities and towns where 바카라사이트y are based; medical research and teaching, especially regarding mental health; 바카라사이트 importance of collaboration as well as competition; 바카라사이트 implications of all this for 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s Industrial Strategy; and understanding 바카라사이트 social dynamics of 바카라사이트 pace of change affecting us all, and what that means for institutions¡¯ business models.

Higher education has a long-term impact on 바카라사이트 lives of individuals, on 바카라사이트 economy and on society as a whole. Those contributing to policy, regulation and funding need to adopt considered and informed positions so that advice given and actions taken are not over-influenced by current media pressures, including social media.

Higher education in 바카라사이트 UK is a success story. There are many gifted individuals in 바카라사이트 sector who will be working hard to ensure that this success continues. Our national wellbeing depends on it.

Sir Tim Melville-Ross is 바카라사이트 former chair of 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England. This article is based on a speech he gave at an event at 바카라사이트 House of Lords to mark Hefce¡¯s winding up.