OfS invitation to feedback on the Equality of Opportunity Risk Register

The OfS’ invites feedback on the Equality of Opportunity Risk Register. This is an unstructured call with no official deadline

The EPC has previously warned the OfS that the EORR inadequately recognises the nuance of risks to equality of opportunity from the viewpoint of different disciplines (as well as demographic, institutional and perhaps regional perspectives) citing gender and intersectionality in engineering which reflect pathways and opportunity, not necessarily individual choices. We expressed concerns that in order to meet B3 conditions and access and participation targets, providers may be incentivised to expand or decrease the size and range of their courses; using the balance of subjects on offer to tackle demographic risks. For example, the propensity of engineering expansion to attract students who, being more likely to be male and being Engineers, will have a tendency to earn more than other graduates, reflecting and perpetuating advantage rather than subject-specific underrepresentation and inequity.

We also highlighted the risk to collaboration from gaming the data and outcomes (admitting more of certain types of students, not by attracting a wider number into higher education but by successfully influencing institutional choice) and the lack of CIAG to defend against this. Plus a few other observations. The full EPC response is available here.

We are liaising with EngineeringUK on an appropriate engineering response and would welcome your comments (below).

Subscribe
Notify of
0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Related articles

OfS consultation on inclusion of Higher Technical Qualifications in student outcome measures

The Office for Students (OfS) is consulting on the introduction of a separate “split indicator” for higher technical qualifications (HTQs)...

Consultations

Research Excellence Framework 2028

In June 2023, the four UK higher education funding bodies published key decisions on the high-level design of the next...

Consultations
Let us know what you think of our website