OfS seeks senior leaders of universities and colleges to join new Provider Panel 

With an aim to ensure the panel reflects the diversity of the English higher education sector, we’re recruiting senior leaders of registered and unregistered institutions of all types to join the panel as expert members. Applicants should be the OfS accountable officer for their institution – normally vice-chancellor, principal, chief executive or equivalent. Applications from senior leaders in institutions that are considering registration with the OfS in future are also welcome. 

The panel will be part of our formal governance arrangements and is expected to start work in January 2026. It will consist of up to 12 senior leaders from the sector, working alongside OfS board members and senior staff.

The Provider Panel will be a ‘critical friend’, offering advice and constructive challenge on current and future OfS policy. Its expert members will assist us in better understanding the perspectives of the institutions we regulate and alert us to emerging risks or issues across the sector.

The programme of work for the Provider Panel will be set out each year, linking to the commitments we made in our 2025-30 strategy and annual business plan.

Chair of the OfS, Edward Peck, said: 

‘I have long advocated for a higher education sector that’s regulated effectively in the interests of students, and I feel privileged to have been appointed to my new role as Chair of the Office for Students at an important time of change for the sector and for the OfS. 

‘The OfS has made significant progress in recent years to strengthen its relationships with the institutions it regulates. The new OfS Provider Panel is a continuation of this work and will ensure we understand how our regulation is affecting universities and colleges of all shapes and sizes. 

‘Our aim is for the new Provider Panel to reflect the rich diversity of the English higher education sector. I would like to encourage senior leaders from all types of institution to apply to join. Whether you’re coming from a large research-intensive university, a specialist creative college, or a new provider thinking about seeking registration, your experience and perspectives could be invaluable.’