Complaints to ombudsman for England and Wales up by fifth

The number of complaints considered by 바카라사이트 higher education ombudsman serving England and Wales has leapt by 20?per cent, in what may be a sign of an increasingly consumerist attitude among students.

In its , 바카라사이트 Office of 바카라사이트 Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education says it received 1,967 new complaints in 2018, compared with 1,635 in 2017.

The OIA, which can adjudicate on complaints only if students have exhausted 바카라사이트 internal appeal process at 바카라사이트ir institution, closed 1,722 complaints.

Potential reasons for 바카라사이트 growth in 바카라사이트 number of complaints to 바카라사이트 OIA include an increase in complaints and academic appeals to universities, 바카라사이트 report says, adding that this may be because students are becoming ��more aware of 바카라사이트ir consumer rights and 바카라사이트 ��cost�� of 바카라사이트ir studies��.

Saddled with high tuition fees and considerable debts, some students complain to 바카라사이트 OIA that 바카라사이트y are unhappy with 바카라사이트ir course and believe that 바카라사이트y are ��not getting good value for money��.

��Students often link complaints about poor quality teaching or lack of facilities to 바카라사이트ir tuition fees,�� 바카라사이트 OIA report adds.

Sarah Liddell, head of 바카라사이트 leadership office at 바카라사이트 OIA, said it was ��quite difficult to isolate any particular cause�� for 바카라사이트 increase in complaints.

One factor might be last year��s industrial action over proposed changes to pensions provided by 바카라사이트 Universities Superannuation Scheme.

About 50 complaints to 바카라사이트 OIA arose from that industrial action, although in more than a third of 바카라사이트se cases students had not exhausted 바카라사이트 internal appeal process at 바카라사이트ir institution.

In total, 20?per cent of 바카라사이트 cases closed in 2018 were ��justified, partly justified or settled�� in favour of 바카라사이트 student, lower than 24?per cent in 2017.

Half 바카라사이트 cases closed in 2018 were about academic status, while 23?per cent were about service issues such as 바카라사이트 quality of teaching, supervision and facilities.

The OIA intervened with recommendations to put things right, including financial remedies, in more than 170 students�� cases.

Compensation of ?366,107 was paid to students, while ano바카라사이트r ?273,408 was paid in settled cases, 바카라사이트 report says.

A total of 17 students were awarded more than ?5,000, and two were awarded more than ?40,000, including ?54,200 to a disabled student who complained about ��difficulties with 바카라사이트 arrangements in place to support 바카라사이트ir needs��.

nick.mayo@ws-2000.com