NUS WELCOMES APPOINTMENT OF LES EBDON AS FAIR ACCESS DIRECTOR

The National Union of Students (NUS) today (Monday) welcomed the appointment of Professor Les Ebdon as the new director of the Office for Fair Access (OFFA).

NUS had argued Professor Ebdon, currently the vice chancellor of the University of Bedfordshire, was the right to choice to lead the access watchdog and welcomed his intention to get tough with those universities failing to meet their fair access obligations.

Liam Burns, NUS President said:

“I would like to congratulate Professor Ebdon on his appointment and look forward to working with him in his new role to tackle barriers to fair access.”

“Vince Cable and David Willetts are right to have resisted attempts by vested interests and old boys networks to sabotage Professor Ebdon’s appointment, and we now look forward to a much-needed shake up to ensure OFFA is transformed from a toothless bureaucracy into an effective regulator.”

“It is clear that mere lip service from universities about fair access is no longer enough. Vice chancellors will now either have to show real evidence of their commitment to widening participation and improving access or face the sanctions OFFA is empowered to impose.”