Susan Lapworth has been appointed as Chief Executive of the Office for Students (OfS), following a stint serving as the interim Chief Executive since May 2022.
Prior to this role, Lapworth was the Director of Regulation at the OfS, and has worked in the higher education sector for 19 years. She was appointed to the role following an open appointment process conducted by the Department for Education.
What is the Office for Students?
The OfS acts as the independent regulator for Higher Education in England. They are not part of central government, but report to Parliament through the Department for Education (DfE).
The OfS receives funding from the DfE for operational costs, and since August 2019, a proportion of these costs comes from fees from registered higher education providers.
As Chief Executive, Lapworth is responsible for setting and delivering the strategic vision for how the OfS will achieve its aims of ‘championing the interests of every student, whatever their background, and making sure that all students have a fulfilling higher education experience.’
Her time in the role will start from September 1 2022, and last until the end of August 2026.
Lapworth has ‘extensive knowledge and experience of our world-class higher education sector’
Lapworth said that she is ‘delighted’ to be appointed to the role, as English universities and colleges make an ‘enormous contribution’ to society and individuals.
‘This complex and diverse sector would not have a regulator if its work was unimportant,’ Lapworth continued, ‘I look forward to continuing to work with the excellent team at the OfS to ensure that students from all backgrounds can access and succeed on high quality courses which leave them well prepared for life after graduation.‘
Meanwhile, Secretary of State for Education James Cleverly said that Susan has demonstrated her leadership skills as interim Chief Executive of the OfS, during which she put students’ interests first.
Cleverly said: ‘She has extensive knowledge and experience of our world-class higher education sector, so I’m pleased to make this appointment. I look forward to seeing her play a pivotal role in improving graduate outcomes and ensuring that all students receive the high-quality academic experience they deserve.’