Office for Students (OfS)

Search for new leaders at OfS and UKRI offers chance for new government to break from the past in its approach to universities and research

Conservative peer steps down following long-running criticism of his political affiliation

Inventor’s Wiltshire-based training centre is first to go through new Office for Students process

Perhaps we need, instead, a specific tribunal to investigate and hear the most serious allegations, says Guy Micklewright 

The regulator’s example scenarios fail to acknowledge the harm that even lawful speech can cause on campus, say Naomi Waltham-Smith and James Murray

Extending England’s proposed threshold for legal recourse would encourage universities to adopt delaying tactics, says Abhishek Saha

Short deadline for universities dealing with issues internally will ‘inundate’ regulator with partially investigated cases, sector fears

Office for Students insists it has ‘no recommendations of directions of travel’ as it seeks views on distribution of £1.5 billion annual budget

Universities are not doing enough to police misconduct. We need an independent register from which bullies can be struck off, says Nicholas Rowe

As high-profile case drags on, legal experts say issues regulator has faced are a harbinger of what is to come

New complaints scheme may help ensure more open debates on campuses in time but Gaza crisis necessitates action now, say campaigners

Health and social care expert to examine performance of Office for Students

But institutions may face paying regulator’s costs under new proposals outlined by England’s new free speech champion

Susan Lapworth tells business school deans that regulator has learned lessons from first investigations into quality of their provision

Regulator says subcontracting of courses becoming bigger and bigger part of the sector but there are ‘potential pockets of concern’

Regulator’s measures of quality may have unintended biases towards certain students, regions and institutions, says Amanda Broderick

PA Consulting survey spotlights concerns on finances plus relations with ministers and regulators, but also optimism on potential solutions

New director promises political impartiality and a thorough consultation as English regulator gets ready to promote and protect expression on campus

Lords committee report delivers biting criticism of ‘distant and combative’ English regulator, prompting calls for its chair to resign

English regulator rejects most criticism of proposals, but acknowledges that it should consider an institution’s ability to pay before it finalises costs

English regulator ‘making it up as it goes along’, critics say

Chief executive Susan Lapworth defends English regulator against sector criticism

Former head of Australian university watchdog says early criticism helped shape more collaborative approach

University of Cambridge philosopher takes on crucial role following the passing of England’s new free speech legislation

Revised conditions that will force universities to store millions of old essays and assignments will cost millions of pounds in annual running costs, say experts

The ‘teenage’ regulator has a toxic relationship with universities owing to its uncompromising approach and its alleged unwillingness to listen – except to Conservative ministers. But should vice-chancellors agitating against the OfS be careful what they wish for? John Morgan reports 

Minister says strong financial health of majority of institutions suggests struggles may be due to poor management, not lack of funding

A new registration condition, complaints scheme and system of penalties all require careful thought, says Jamie Roberts

Challenger institutions offer innovation and dynamism, but ignorance and monopolistic behaviour is holding them back, says Edward Venning 

Universities’ lack of compliance with European standards raises suspicions in foreign governments that hamper expansion plans, warns agency’s chief executive

Regulator will not ‘prop up’ any institution found to be at risk of going under as greater funding pressures start to bite

Student representatives tell Lords inquiry that English regulator more concerned with satisfying desires of government

Education secretary directs OfS to create ‘competitive degree apprenticeship development fund’ in England

Vivienne Stern tells Lords inquiry that trust would increase if regulator was more resistant to political direction

Figures should ‘concern us all’, warns regulator

Former OfS chief executive turned Bristol professor defends regulator ‘looking out for the interests of students’ as it comes under scrutiny

Architect of English regulator also criticises universities for ‘sniping’ at it

Additional fees to institutions that breach OfS rules may focus attention on growing regulatory costs

The regulator’s published approach to enforcement lacks basic safeguards around transparency, fairness and accountability, says Smita Jamdar 

Regulator’s former chair also says fears ‘half a dozen or more’ institutions would collapse in pandemic were averted via its support

Wide-ranging investigation will look at powers held by English higher education regulator and its relationship with government

OfS’ proposed scheme might unintentionally endorse personal relationships between staff and students, campaigners warn

English regulator plans to order institutions to create registers of relationships, with expectation that staff who keep liaisons secret will be sacked

Hopes that a new regulator would bring light-touch, proportionate regulation in England have been dashed, says Iain Mansfield

English regulator concedes providers being asked to do too much, too quickly and gives most another year to work on plans

Chief executive Susan Lapworth says regulator will ‘respond positively and practically’ to recommendations from highly critical report

Agency rebuts Office for Students report which ‘substantially misrepresents’ role in assessing higher education providers, as major rift exposed

Concerns over regulator’s independence and sweeping new powers necessitates parliamentary investigation, letter to Robin Walker states

Ministers accused of adding bureaucracy then ‘putting the costs on universities’ with planned rise while cutting student support in real terms

Reports of a 13 per cent rise in registration fees is unjustifiable in the current economic environment, says Stephen Marston

With much still unclear, complaints procedures are likely to be lengthy and fraught with contention, says Gill Evans

Academics Peter Mathieson and Vernon Bogdanor among those knighted for services to their disciplines or the sector

Regulator tells universities free speech codes should cover teaching and academics will be polled, bringing ‘independence’ rebuke

Two-thirds of larger providers failing to meet every student outcomes benchmark in every subject, THE analysis finds

English regulator focuses on law, business and computing courses not meeting thresholds for continuation, completion and progression

Evaluation report finds some institutions ‘slow to prioritise this issue’, leading to need for more regulation to ensure ‘consistent approach’ across sector

Students in England will no longer be asked about the overall quality of their course despite opposition to the move

English regulator ‘moving forward’ with registration condition and student survey that could spotlight individual universities for intervention

English regulator announces long-awaited thresholds higher education providers must meet to avoid the risk of sanctions

Hitting targets ‘not the be-all and end-all’, John Blake tells THE, as national risk register for higher education participation planned