Interim Regulatory Partnership Group formed to oversee HE transition

30 September 2011

A new group has been set up by HEFCE and the Student Loans Company (SLC) to advise on and oversee the transition to the new regulatory and funding systems for higher education. It is called the Interim Regulatory Partnership Group and met for the first time on 12 September.

The Higher Education Statistics Agency, the Office for Fair Access, the Office of the Independent Adjudicator, the Quality Assurance Agency and UCAS are also members of the group. Universities UK and GuildHE attended the first meeting as observers. The group will link with other higher education groups and organisations, and with the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, as its work proceeds.

The group's role is to provide advice and oversight during the transition to the new regulatory and funding systems, subject to the outcomes of government consultation and legislation and the establishment of permanent governance arrangements. Its overarching aim is to ensure minimal disruption to students, universities, colleges, and other higher education organisations as the new arrangements are introduced.

The group, which is interim in status, will focus on the practicalities of the new arrangements. The first meeting agreed to begin work on two key areas:

• mapping the current higher education system, as a first step in the development of new operating models for funding and regulation
• a review of the data and information landscape.

The group will meet again in December.

Full details of the group, including its membership and terms of reference, are available.

Page last updated 19 January 2012