The House of Lords Industry and Regulators Committee will hear
from (former Minister
of State for Universities, Science and Innovation) and (former Secretary of State
for Education and Skills), as it continues its inquiry into the
Office for Students (OfS), the regulator of the higher education
sector in England.
The session will run from 10.30am until 12.00pm on
Tuesday 14 March and can be followed live on
Parliament
TV or in person in Committee Room 2,
Palace of Westminster.
Possible questions include:
- Are the OfS’ statutory duties clear and appropriate? Has it
been given a clear job to do by Parliament?
- To what extent is the OfS’ work determined by the Government?
Is the guidance the Government issues the regulator too
prescriptive?
- Has the Government provided clarity on its overall policy or
strategy for the higher education sector, especially given the
absence of the expected influx of providers into the sector
following the OfS’ establishment?
- How does the OfS evaluate whether higher education provides
value for money?
- How does the OfS engage with students, and to what extent
does student input drive the OfS’ view of their interests and its
regulatory framework?
- What financial risks does the higher education sector face?
Are these risks limited to particular groups of providers or are
they widespread or systemic in nature?
The Committee’s call for evidence for the inquiry is open until
Friday 7 April. Details how to submit evidence
are available on the Committee’s website.
