Committee to question Minister on the Office for Students and higher education funding
The Industry and Regulators Committee will hear from the Rt Hon Robert Halfon MP, Minister for Skills, Apprenticeships and Higher Education, as part of the Committee’s inquiry into the work of the Office for Students (OfS), the regulator of higher education providers in England. The Committee will discuss whether the OfS’ has a clear job to do and its relationship with students and providers. The Committee will examine the Government’s relationship with the OfS, the regulator’s independence and the extent to which the regulator’s work is driven by political priorities. The Committee will also consider the financial sustainability of the higher education sector. This will include discussing the Government’s role in higher education funding, the business models of higher education providers and the financial risks that they face.
Meeting details
Possible questions include:
- What is the main purpose of the Office for Students? Did the Higher Education and Research Act 2017 give the OfS a clear job to do?
- How does the relationship between the OfS and the Government work in practice? To what extent do political and media priorities drive the OfS’ work and decision-making?
- What has the Government done to provide clarity on its overall policy or strategy for the higher education sector?
- What financial risks does the higher education sector face? Is there a growing crisis in the finances of higher education providers?
- To what extent is the OfS’ work driven by the input and priorities of students?