Alternative Provider Engagement The next four months Rob Stroud Head of AP Intelligence and Engagement Independent HE Conference 28 November 2017

Overview Review of AP engagement activity Current priorities and planned activity The future

AP Engagement ‘through the ages’ AP engagement activity beyond the course designation function started by HEFCE in September 2014 A challenging environment Urgent application of Student Number Controls by BIS Home Office action National Audit Office report Public Accounts Committee 2015 a watershed moment – formation of the AP Intelligence Unit with BIS Structured engagement with providers for the first time Significant investment of resource by BIS and HEFCE Resource mobilised from the start of 2015-16 academic year Lots of new information and intelligence captured

Development of AP engagement Year 1: Getting to know you Year 2: Developing nuanced and proportionate engagement Year 3: Bespoke engagement and preparation for the future What next?

Developing the sector – where are we now? Working with individual institutions – over 250 visits Working with stakeholder groups Supporting stakeholder engagement activity with DfE – appropriate signposting and channelling Two ‘sold out’ conferences to share practice and develop and understanding Provider workshops on key topics – e.g. NSS, TEF webinar etc. Sharing our knowledge – briefings for sector groups, other public sector bodies, blogs Recognised impact in supporting DfE’s sector oversight

Current priorities for HEFCE with APs BBC Panorama Annual redesignation Recording queries on the DfE consultations HEAPES Strict deadline of noon on the 14th December Streamlined verification activity Guidance and newly developed online training resources Supporting provider engagement with TEF Year 3 Engaging providers with specific projects – e.g. Quality in Small Providers, Governance, Harrassment Task force Business as usual with ongoing provider engagement

Plans for 2018 Plan is that HEFCE formally ceases to exist as an organisation on 31 March 2018 Now developing our engagement approach for the first three months of 2018 Two major priorities: Engagement with providers according to the regulatory context Highlighting to providers the need to be “Ready to register” Important for providers to recognise that HEFCE and the OfS are different organisations – this is not ‘just’ a change of name OfS provider registration will open in April 2018 – Replaces annual redesignation Currently we do not have more detail on the OfS operations

Mission accomplished?

Thank you for listening r.stroud@hefce.ac.uk

Consulting on the OfS’s new Regulatory Framework Securing student success: risk-based regulation for teaching excellence, social mobility and informed choice in higher education Consulting on the OfS’s new Regulatory Framework

Five Consultations The consultation on the OfS’s regulatory framework forms part of a suite of five consultation, running in parallel. All relate to the implementation of the Higher Education and Research Act: The OfS’s Regulatory Framework OfS Registration Fees Degree Awarding Powers & University Title Designated Data Body Designated Quality Body There will be a separate consultation on monetary penalties by the end of the year.

The Regulatory Framework The Register, Conditions, and how the OfS will regulate

The OfS’s Objectives Objective 1: all students, from all backgrounds, are supported to access, succeed in, and progress from, higher education Objective 2: all students, from all backgrounds, receive a high quality academic experience, and their qualifications hold their value over time in line with sector- recognised standards Objective 3: that all students, from all backgrounds, have their interests as consumers protected while they study, including in the event of provider, campus, or course closure Objective 4: that all students, from all backgrounds, receive value for money

The OfS as a market regulator The OfS will take a risk-based approach, and monitor risk at: the sector level – creating conditions for choice and competition, and using interventions to address sector-wide market failure the provider level – regulating providers to protect outcomes for students – risk monitoring will primarily take place at this level. All providers must meet a high baseline – both initially and on an ongoing basis. Ongoing monitoring proportionate to risk

The Register Registered basic Approved Approved (fee cap) Official recognition as HE Must sign up to OIA Limited additional registration conditions Approved Access to student support Eligible to apply for Tier 4 licence, DAPs and UT Registration conditions in relation to Quality, FSMG, transparency and student protection, etc. Approved (fee cap) Access to student support and grant funding Subject to fee cap

Initial Conditions of Registration For the approved and approved (fee cap) categories, providers must meet initial conditions in relation to: Access & Participation Plan or Statement Quality and Standards Financial Viability and Sustainability Management and Governance Student Contracts and Consumer Law Student Protection Plans All initial registration conditions will remain as ongoing general registration conditions once a provider has registered

Ongoing Conditions of Registration In addition, providers in the approved and approved (fee cap) categories will be subject to ongoing conditions relating to: Transparency Information regarding senior staff pay Subscription to the OIA Information regarding student transfer arrangements Facilitating electoral registration TEF Accountability, payment of fees and the provision of information Where applicable: compliance with the fee limit and any terms and conditions of grant funding

Risk, Monitoring and Interventions OfS regulation will be risk-based, and proportionate Risk drives the level of regulatory engagement with a provider: based upon the likelihood of a provider breaching their conditions Following an in-depth assessment at registration, ongoing monitoring will be largely information and data driven, supplemented by random sampling OfS can intervene in a number of ways if it spots emerging risks: Enhanced monitoring Specific Conditions of Registration Sanctions

Transition and next steps Date Activity January 2018 The OfS will be established February/ March 2018 The OfS publishes its regulatory framework April 2018 Secure OfS portal opens for applications to the new register July 2018 OfS confirms registration status for providers with courses that have an early UCAS application deadline Mid September 2018 The OfS publishes the register for the first time. From 1 August 2019 The new regulatory framework will be fully in force Transitional arrangements will be in place for regulating existing providers between April 2018 and August 2019.

Deadlines and how to respond All consultations close on 22 December Responses are possible: Online via Citizenspace By email to HERA.CONSULTATIONS@education.gov.uk By post to: Catherine Gregory Department for Education Sanctuary Buildings 20 Great Smith Street London SW1P 3BT Whilst we will ensure any discussions and feedback from this event today are considered as part of the consultation, we would encourage you all to formally respond to our consultations.