Office for Students 2024-09-09
2024-09-09
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
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Context
Assessment requested on the effectiveness of the Office for Students.
What assessment has been made of the effectiveness of the Office for Students?
For too long, universities have been treated as political battlegrounds. This Labour Government will treat them as engines of opportunity and growth. On 26 July, I published the report of the independent review of the Office for Students and appointed Sir David Behan, who led the review, as the interim chair.
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Assessment & feedback
The effectiveness assessment was not directly addressed.
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
The House of Lords Industry and Regulators Committee presented a report last year that was critical of the Office for Students.
What plans does she have to reset the relationship with the OfS so that it gives renewed focus to the students that it is supposed to represent?
I thank my hon. Friend for all his work in this important area to ensure that our universities are recognised as a crucial part of how we drive growth in our country. Sir David's review, which we published in July, is a platform for improvement, and I welcome and accept its core findings.
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Assessment & feedback
Concrete plans were not provided.
Response accuracy
Q3
Partial Answer
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Context
University Centre Weston has transformed access to higher education in the town.
How will the Labour Government seek to strengthen the strategic objective of the Office for Students to widen participation in communities such as mine?
I strongly agree with my hon. Friend about the importance of widening participation, and he sets out clearly how universities are a key part of towns and cities right across our country. The last Government wanted to use our world-leading sector as a political football.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific plans for strengthening strategic objectives were not provided.
Response accuracy
Q4
Partial Answer
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Context
The New Model Institute for Technology and Engineering is offering new opportunities to young people.
Does the right hon. Lady share my view that this is a deeply worthwhile enterprise that could be replicated around the country, and will she come and visit herself?
I am grateful to the right hon. Gentleman for raising this matter. I would be happy to meet with him to discuss it further.
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Assessment & feedback
No specific agreement or visit confirmation was given.
Response accuracy
Q5
Partial Answer
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Context
There are concerns about the influence of hostile states on the higher education sector.
Does the Secretary of State share the concerns about reports that Peking University HSBC Business School in Oxford may be partly operating under Chinese Communist party rules, and does she expect the Office for Students to investigate that?
The shadow Minister will know that the Office for Students is independent, but I will ensure that it looks very carefully at the concerns that he has set out, and addresses them accordingly.
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Assessment & feedback
Concrete confirmation or investigation timeline was not provided.
Response accuracy