The House of Commons Education Select Committee should initiate an inquiry into the Office for Students given “its continuing imposition” of “unnecessary regulatory burden”, the heads of the UK’s four main higher education mission groups have said.
A letter to the Conservative MP Robin Walker, who chairs the committee in Westminster, has urged him to carry out an “independent and comprehensive assessment of the OfS’ performance” as the English sector enters its fifth year of operation.
Signed by the chief executives of the Russell Group, GuildHE, MillionPlus and University Alliance – Tim Bradshaw, Gordon McKenzie, Rachel Hewett and Vanessa Wilson – the letter hints that the relationship between the regulator and universities has hit a new low.
The OfS has faced criticism for its interventionist approach to higher education regulation, including its introduction of performance benchmarks for continuation, completion and progression. Times Higher Education has revealed plans to increase fees universities have to pay to the regulator by 13 per cent.
