Students will be put centre stage in the drive to raise standards in universities, higher education minister Margaret Hodge announced today.

Student views will play a key role in the new framework for quality assurance in higher education developed by a partnership of universities, colleges, the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) and the Higher Education Funding Council for England.

Forum Response: Universities UK

Professor Roderick Floud, president of Universities UK, told ePolitix.com: "This is almost certainly the best news on external quality assurance arrangements that the sector has received since 1991.

"For the first time in more than a decade we have a coherent and soundly-based system keyed to identified stakeholder - especially student - needs, notably for information. It is also one which will work right across higher education, wherever and however it is delivered.

"It is a considerable achievement after much hard work by Government, Funding Councils, QAA, institutions and ourselves, the representative bodies. Universities UK is grateful to everyone who has patiently identified and worked through the issues. Special thanks must go to Professor Sir Ron Cooke, who has clarified the crucially important information aspects of our new approach.

"Universities UK's position has consistently been that we want a rigorous and cost-effective system which delivers accountability with improvement, without stifling flexibility, diversity and innovation. We can believe that we now have that."