DFEE's role in Derby

It is not true that the QAA 1998 audit of the University of Derby's link with Israel failed to spot the weaknesses on which we reported earlier this month. As with many such links we found strengths and weaknesses and we reported these in an evenhanded way. Your report quotes only our comments on the strengths ("Derby bites back at QAA report, THES, August 18).

In 1998, we said "a more measured and prudent pace of development might be advisable to establish greater security of quality". Given our recent conclusion that "the link was established and approved too quickly" and "the target numbers for initial student recruitment were too high" that might be seen as a prescient warning.

John Randall

Chief executive

Quality Assurance Agency