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University inspections face overhaul | University inspections face overhaul |
(about 20 hours later) | |
How the quality of university courses in the UK is checked is to be overhauled in the next few years. | How the quality of university courses in the UK is checked is to be overhauled in the next few years. |
The higher education funding councils have announced a review of how universities are monitored. | The higher education funding councils have announced a review of how universities are monitored. |
There will be a public tendering process to run the university inspection system from 2017. | There will be a public tendering process to run the university inspection system from 2017. |
The current watchdog, the Quality Assurance Agency, says that it already offers "internationally recognised expertise" in ensuring quality. | The current watchdog, the Quality Assurance Agency, says that it already offers "internationally recognised expertise" in ensuring quality. |
The announcement raises the prospect of a new system for protecting the quality of higher education. | The announcement raises the prospect of a new system for protecting the quality of higher education. |
It is the first time that the contract for running the watchdog system will have been put out to competitive tender in this way. | It is the first time that the contract for running the watchdog system will have been put out to competitive tender in this way. |
It follows major changes in the university sector - with more consumer pressure from students paying higher tuition fees and an increasing number of private providers needing to be overseen. | It follows major changes in the university sector - with more consumer pressure from students paying higher tuition fees and an increasing number of private providers needing to be overseen. |
It will also become a bigger sector next year with the removal of limits on student numbers. | It will also become a bigger sector next year with the removal of limits on student numbers. |
Checking quality | Checking quality |
Universities are autonomous and responsible for their own standards - but since 1997 the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) has had a role in checking that these standards are maintained. | Universities are autonomous and responsible for their own standards - but since 1997 the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) has had a role in checking that these standards are maintained. |
The funding councils say they want assessment arrangements that are "risk-based, proportionate, affordable, and low burden". | The funding councils say they want assessment arrangements that are "risk-based, proportionate, affordable, and low burden". |
There will be a consultation process followed by competitive bids to run the quality assurance monitoring. | There will be a consultation process followed by competitive bids to run the quality assurance monitoring. |
There could also be a split in the current UK-wide system - with England, Wales and Northern Ireland carrying out a review separately from a parallel review announced for Scotland. | There could also be a split in the current UK-wide system - with England, Wales and Northern Ireland carrying out a review separately from a parallel review announced for Scotland. |
A spokeswoman for the QAA says it would bid for the contract. | A spokeswoman for the QAA says it would bid for the contract. |
"QAA has internationally recognised expertise in providing quality assurance and enhancement to an exceptional standard," said chairman Sir Rodney Brooke. | "QAA has internationally recognised expertise in providing quality assurance and enhancement to an exceptional standard," said chairman Sir Rodney Brooke. |
"In recent years, we have continued to adapt the quality assurance framework to meet the needs of a growing and dynamic sector, working with higher education, further education and alternative providers. | "In recent years, we have continued to adapt the quality assurance framework to meet the needs of a growing and dynamic sector, working with higher education, further education and alternative providers. |
"We look forward to continuing the development of quality assessment, protecting the public interest and supporting the UK higher education sector's international reputation for excellence." | "We look forward to continuing the development of quality assessment, protecting the public interest and supporting the UK higher education sector's international reputation for excellence." |
The QAA carries out a watchdog role, but it is a very different type of organisation from Ofsted which inspects schools. While Ofsted has been debating whether a day's warning allows schools too much time to prepare for inspectors, the QAA can warn universities of a review several years in advance. | The QAA carries out a watchdog role, but it is a very different type of organisation from Ofsted which inspects schools. While Ofsted has been debating whether a day's warning allows schools too much time to prepare for inspectors, the QAA can warn universities of a review several years in advance. |
Wendy Piatt, director general of the Russell Group of universities, said she wanted a "proportional approach" which would require less "inspection and bureaucracy" for older, well established institutions. | Wendy Piatt, director general of the Russell Group of universities, said she wanted a "proportional approach" which would require less "inspection and bureaucracy" for older, well established institutions. |
"Our universities will not flourish if they are over-regulated. Resources should be focused where problems of quality are most likely to occur." | "Our universities will not flourish if they are over-regulated. Resources should be focused where problems of quality are most likely to occur." |
Pam Tatlow, chief executive of the Million+ group of universities, said the funding councils need "to be careful not to throw the baby out with the bathwater". | Pam Tatlow, chief executive of the Million+ group of universities, said the funding councils need "to be careful not to throw the baby out with the bathwater". |
"While there have been concerns about the QAA's modus operandi, the system is certainly not broken and has the advantage of being UK-wide in scope and internationally recognised. | "While there have been concerns about the QAA's modus operandi, the system is certainly not broken and has the advantage of being UK-wide in scope and internationally recognised. |
"Higher education would certainly not benefit from an Ofsted-style inspection regime." | "Higher education would certainly not benefit from an Ofsted-style inspection regime." |
Nick Davy from the Association of Colleges said that the review process needed to recognise that about 10% of all funding-council regulated higher education was delivered in further education colleges. | |
Mr Davy said any quality assurance system needed to be appropriate to assessing the type of technical and professional education wanted by employers. |
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