OFFA adds further expertise to its Advisory Group

The Office for Fair Access (OFFA) has appointed nine new experts to its Advisory Group to advise the Director of Fair Access to Higher Education on strategy and policy issues.

The new members are:

Femi Bola MBE (Director of Employability and Enterprise, University of East London)

Sir Ivor Crewe (Master, University College Oxford)

Dr Penelope Griffin (Head of Widening Participation, University of Nottingham)

Jude Heaton (Associate Director, Higher Education Access, Teach First)

Sarah Howls (Head of Student Opportunity, Higher Education Funding Council for England)

Dr Debbie McVitty (Head of Higher Education Research and Policy, National Union of Students)

David Ruebain (Chief Executive, Equality Challenge Unit)

Fiona Waye (Policy Advisor, Universities UK)

Jo Wiggans (Director, Aimhigher Research and Consultancy Network).

They join the Advisory Group’s three existing members: Dr John Selby, former Director (Education and Participation) at the Higher Education Funding Council for England, who will continue to chair the group; Dr Lee Elliot Major, Director of Development and Policy at the Sutton Trust; and Aaron Porter, education consultant and former President of the National Union of Students.

Director of Fair Access to Higher Education, Professor Les Ebdon, said: “These new members bring a wealth of experience to our Advisory Group, significantly extending the expertise I can draw on.

“I am confident they will make a valuable contribution to the Group’s work and very much look forward to working with them.”

The expansion of OFFA’s Advisory Group follows a recommendation by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills in its Higher Education White Paper in July 2011, Students at the Heart of the System. OFFA received a total of 95 applications for the posts.

The Group’s function is to provide the director with expert and impartial advice on strategy, policy issues, procedures and, where necessary, individual access agreements. Members are appointed in an individual capacity (rather than as representatives of their organisation) for a fixed, three-year term, renewable once. They are required to undertake up to six days’ work each year, for which they can claim £250 per day plus expenses.

ENDS

For further information contact Zita Adamson, OFFA Communications Manager (0117 931 7272) or Sophie Mason, OFFA Communications and Press Adviser (0117 931 7204), or email press@offa.org.uk

NOTES TO EDITORS

1. The Office for Fair Access (OFFA) is an independent, non-departmental public body established under the Higher Education Act 2004 to help promote and safeguard fair access to higher education, particularly for lower-income and other under-represented groups. The main way we do this is by approving and monitoring access agreements. All publicly funded English universities and colleges offering undergraduate (and some postgraduate) higher education courses must have an access agreement approved by OFFA in order to charge above the basic fee (in the academic years 2012-13 and 2013-14 this is £6,000 per year for full-time students and £4,500 for part-time students). For more about OFFA, please see our website www.offa.org.uk, particularly the Quick Facts and FAQ in the Press section.

2. Individual Advisory Group members are appointed in their personal capacity and not as nominees/representatives of any other body. Members must register with the Clerk to the Advisory Group any personal or business interests which may conflict or be seen to conflict with their responsibilities. Members also have the opportunity to declare interests at the start of each meeting.

3. More detail on the Advisory Group’s functions and terms of reference.