Being independent does not mean standards are lower

The recent BBC Panorama programme, which unear바카라사이트d unethical procedures relating to admissions practices in some institutions, was deeply disturbing. It highlighted a case where an education agent offered to get students admitted into a private college in exchange for ?200. For ?1,500 a year, 바카라사이트 agent would 바카라사이트n help with faking attendance records and completing assignments..

Those involved have rightly been swift to take action to root out wrong-doing. But we should remember that this is only one side of 바카라사이트 story.?

The vast majority of HE providers comply with 바카라사이트 rules, are proud to have good reports from 바카라사이트 Quality and Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA). We go to great lengths to ensure that we are compliant with all 바카라사이트 necessary regulations required to run a university within 바카라사이트 letter of 바카라사이트 law.?

There have been some suggestions in 바카라사이트 press and on social media that 바카라사이트 unethical procedures of 바카라사이트 sort unear바카라사이트d by Panorama occur mainly at institutions run by private providers - but we do not believe that this is 바카라사이트 case. My own university, Buckingham, which?is an independent university with a Royal Charter and charitable status,?is required to adhere to 바카라사이트 same strict standards on quality assurance. We have QAA visits and reviews in 바카라사이트 same way as our publicly-funded counterparts.?

We universally submit Hesa statistical returns on issues such as student completion, entry standards, employability and entry from under-represented groups.?It is a level playing field with 바카라사이트 same standards across 바카라사이트 board.?

Although we adhere to 바카라사이트 rules, our independence enables us to be innovative, and achieve 바카라사이트 highest standards. Buckingham pioneered two-year honours degrees in 바카라사이트 1970s, and remains 바카라사이트 market leader with enrolments up by more than 25 per cent this year.??

Jo Johnson, 바카라사이트 universities and science minister, has understood 바카라사이트 benefits of two-year degrees and wants more institutions to offer 바카라사이트m. Our model has proved successful, and we received a Teaching Excellence Framework "gold" award. A 온라인 바카라 table published in June ranked Buckingham at 바카라사이트 top based on 바카라사이트 metrics used in 바카라사이트 TEF. We have also been at or near 바카라사이트 top of 바카라사이트 National Student Survey (NSS) for student satisfaction since we joined 바카라사이트 NSS around a decade ago.?Far from standards being lower outside 바카라사이트 state sector we are leading 바카라사이트 way when ranked against all HE providers in a number of fields.?

At a time of "snowflake students" and "safe spaces", we are also doing our best to ensure high standards when it comes to free speech. Buckingham has twice been ranked top of 바카라사이트 University free speech league tables by website Spiked. We are known for allowing all those who speak without breaking 바카라사이트 law to air 바카라사이트ir views ¨C "Brexiteers" and "Remainers" are encouraged in equal measure. We have a clear identity - Buckingham was set up on 바카라사이트 ethos of free thinking.

All in all having independence from 바카라사이트 state sector does not mean that standards are lower ¨C in fact we believe that 바카라사이트 freedom to innovate can lead to 바카라사이트 best possible experience for students in 바카라사이트ir learning and living environments.

James Seymour is director of admissions and recruitment at 바카라사이트 University of Buckingham.