Tertiary Education and Research (Wales) Act 2022

PART 2 OVERSIGHT BY THE COMMISSION

Application

4 This Part applies if there is a body designated under this Schedule to exercise the assessment functions.

Power to provide funding

5 The Commission may provide funding to the designated body for exercising the assessment functions.

Oversight arrangements

6 The Commission must make arrangements for holding the designated body to account for the exercise of the assessment functions.

Annual report by the designated body

7 (1) As soon as reasonably practicable after the end of each annual reporting period, the designated body must prepare and send to the Commission a report about the exercise of the assessment functions during the period.

(2) “Annual reporting period”, in relation to a designated body, means—

(a) the period of 12 months beginning with the effective date, and

(b) each successive period of 12 months.

Power of the Commission to give directions

8 (1) The Commission may give the designated body general directions about the exercise of the assessment functions.

(2) In giving such directions, the Commission must have regard to the need to protect—

(a) the expertise of the designated body, and

(b) the designated body’s ability to make, or make arrangements for, an impartial assessment of the quality of higher education provided by a tertiary education provider.

(3) The directions must relate—

(a) to tertiary education providers in Wales providing higher education or registered providers providing higher education generally, or

(b) a description of such providers.

(4) The designated body must comply with any directions given under this paragraph.

Duty of the Commission to inform the Welsh Ministers about significant concerns

9 The Commission must inform the Welsh Ministers if it has significant concerns about—

(a) how the designated body is exercising the assessment functions, or

(b) the continued suitability of the designated body to exercise those functions.