The relationship between the Office for Students (OfS) and the higher education sector has been characterised by “fractiousness” and a lack of trust, according to the chief executive of Universities UK.
Vivienne Stern, giving evidence to a House of Lords select committee that is investigating the role of the OfS, said the regulator would benefit from rebuffing political interference.
“Broadly speaking, there is support for the OfS and what it is there to do, which is fundamentally to provide a mechanism to ensure there is public confidence in the way that universities are operating – both in terms of quality and value, but also access to higher education,” she said.
Ms Stern, who took up the top job at UUK last September, said the OfS’ remit was clear, but in its five years of existence it had gathered additional responsibilities and had to deal with a “revolving door of new ministers of state” and political instability.
