case study - national audit office

Oxford academics have reviewed over 100 National Audit Office ‘Value for Money’ (VfM) reports as part of a three-year consultancy contract that Oxford University Consulting (OUC) has with the NAO, the body that scrutinises public spending on behalf of Parliament.

OUC works with an editorial board to identify Oxford academics with the expertise to comment on a range of NAO reports. In return for a consultancy fee, researchers from across the University’s Divisions review VfM reports on a wide variety of subjects - from defence procurement to self-assessment income tax forms; from NHS IT systems to the management of foot and mouth disease.

“Our review work for the NAO really plays to Oxford’s strengths,” says Isis Project Manager Andrew Goff. “Experts at the University are able to take an independent and objective view, and their experience of peer reviewing papers for scholarly publication is invaluable. We provide organizations like the NAO access to a depth and breadth of expertise that is second to none in the UK.”

The NAO formally recognised the value of its relationship with the University of Oxford by inviting Isis to become one of its VfM Strategic Partners in 2006. As a Strategic Partner, OUC is able to commission Oxford academics to conduct full VfM studies for the NAO. The first such study was secured by OUC for researchers at the Oxford Internet Institute through a joint bid between them and the LSE.