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Names in the frame with government expected to announce interim chair for English regulator imminently
The next chair of the Office for Students is expected to be announced this week—but who might take up the mantle?
The previous chair, James Wharton, left his role at the English regulator earlier this month. Wharton—a Conservative member of the House of Lords who controversially continued to take the party whip after taking up his OfS post—resigned shortly after the Labour Party came to power at the general election.
Wharton’s appointment was faced from day one by accusations of cronyism. The peer ran former prime minister Boris Johnson‘s leadership campaign and was a friend of Gavin Williamson, education secretary at the time he was appointed.
Among the names in the hat to succeed Wharton are former vice-chancellors, ex politicians and several other sector figures.
Prime predictions
Diana Beech, chief executive of London Higher and a former adviser to three Conservative universities ministers, believes there is a clear choice. “I think Justine Greening would be an excellent pick,” she says of the former Conservative education secretary.
“Although some may be concerned that she was a former Conservative MP, she was secretary of state during the passing of the Higher Education and Research Act and establishment of the regulator, so she knows better than most the direction in which it should be heading.”
Nick Hillman, director of the Higher Education Policy Institute, told Research Professional News he would like to see a “‘big beast’ former vice-chancellor in the interim role—someone who has stood down in the last few years but is still involved with the sector and who understands the financial challenges.”
Hillman named no names, but among those who might fit his description are Chris Husbands, former head of Sheffield Hallam University; Andrew Wathey, who stood down from Northumbria University two years ago; and former Lincoln University head Mary Stuart. Nancy Rothwell, about to retire as vice-chancellor of the University of Manchester, could also fit the bill.
Not everyone RPN spoke to was prepared to go on the record. But some of the other names we heard mentioned include recently departed University of the Arts London vice-chancellor James Purnell, former Birmingham vice-chancellor David Eastwood and Labour peer Andrew Adonis, who made headlines several years ago for his criticism of vice-chancellor pay.
An announcement is expected tomorrow.