John Randall

Since September 2001 John Randall has worked as an independent, international consultant on higher education and professional training. In addition to work for educational and professional bodies in the United Kingdom, John has undertaken consultancy work for government bodies, universities and colleges in the Philippines, Hong Kong, Oman, Trinidad & Tobago, South Africa, Jersey; and for UNESCO.

From 1997 to 2001, John was Chief Executive of the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education in the United Kingdom. The mission of the Agency is to promote public confidence that quality of provision and standards of awards in higher education are being safeguarded and enhanced. To this end, it carries out an extensive programme of reviews at subject and institutional levels in universities and colleges, and advises government on the grant of university title.

Prior to joining the Agency as its first Chief Executive in 1997, John was Director, Professional Standards and Development at the Law Society, with responsibility for the professional regulation, education and training of solicitors. John served for five years on the National Council for Vocational Qualifications, and is currently a member of the council of the City and Guilds of London Institute. He served as a member of the Board of the International Network of Quality Assurance Agencies in Higher Education. John is currently the lay member of the Senior Fellows Assessment Panel of the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers.

John’s early career was as a trade union official, with particular interests in industrial training. After graduation, he served as President of the National Union of Students. John is a graduate of the University of York, and holds an honorary Doctorate in Law from the Nottingham Trent University.