Susan Lapworth, the OfS’s chief executive, argues that focusing quality assessment on core academic matters means focusing on the things that matter to students.
As you know, I was recently appointed as the OfS's chief executive. At my interview I was asked the sort of questions that any interview panel would ask. So, of course, they asked why I wanted the job. That gave me pause. But my answer was that this job brings two things together for me:
I care about the higher education sector. And I enjoy being a regulator.
Our sector is important for the country and for individuals – it's a combination of public and private good. It was certainly important for me and the way my life has turned out. I wouldn't be here if I hadn't been the first in my family to go to university. I also worked in higher education institutions for many years and enjoyed that hugely. Universities and colleges are full of interesting, smart people doing important work.