Public debate is focused on what might happen after the General Election. Change is in the air, and everyone wants a piece of it. Will higher education be high up the list for reform? Unlikely, with health, the economy, and global security in the top spots.
The Office for Students’ (OfS) performance as the English sector’s regulator has been under heavy scrutiny, the recent House of Lords enquiry had a series of excruciating hearings leading to a report that was heavily critical and recommended substantial changes. And Universities UK commissioned an evaluation of the burden of regulation, reporting that there is a lack of clarity in regulatory timelines, significant resources required for compliance, and a perceived lack of constructive engagement in the sector-regulator relationship. It has often felt like the OfS has assumed that everyone is out to screw the system.
This dynamic must change: it’s wasteful for students and it doesn’t reflect the reality of a sector in which the vast majority of staff are working in good faith for the best ends. We shouldn’t regulate for the sake of it or design an entire system to take care of marginal cases. The OfS argues, with reason, that things have changed since HERA became law in 2017, the sector now has a regulator not a funder. Universities state that they are comfortable with having a regulator but want to have good relations and feel as though their autonomy and track record are shown a bit more respect.
As we stand today, the OfS is at a crossroads. It needs to be assertive and independent, but also to command respect and credibility within the HE sector. Our aim here is not just to critique, but to set out a roadmap that acknowledges the barriers which have hindered the OfS’ effectiveness and to chart a course for the future.
