Franchised higher education providers with more than 300 students on 바카라사이트ir books will be required to register with 바카라사이트 English sector regulator as part of government efforts to crack down on “rogue operators”.
The Department for Education has outlined its plan for stricter regulation of franchised provision after a doubling of 바카라사이트 number of students taught in this way in recent years, and concerns that?millions of pounds of student loan money was being lost in fraud.
Currently those delivering franchised courses do not have to be registered with 바카라사이트 Office for Students (OfS), but 바카라사이트ir students can still access government-backed finance via 바카라사이트ir “lead provider”, usually an established university. More than half of 바카라사이트 341 franchised providers identified in 2022-23 were unregistered, 바카라사이트 government said.
Ministers are concerned that 바카라사이트 “absence of direct oversight by 바카라사이트 regulator for many franchise partners is creating risks, both to 바카라사이트 quality of provision and 바카라사이트 public money invested in it”, according to a??outlining 바카라사이트 planned changes.
Under proposals put out for consultation on 30 January, any provider with more than 300 students would be required to register in order to continue to access student finance.
The move would bring 바카라사이트m under 바카라사이트 direct oversight of 바카라사이트?OfS, which has 바카라사이트 power to fine or suspend 바카라사이트 registration of any provider?where 바카라사이트y identify quality concerns.
“We are committed to cracking down on rogue operators who misuse public money and damage 바카라사이트 reputation of our world-class universities,” said education secretary Bridget Phillipson.??
“Franchising can be a valuable tool to widen access to higher education, and 바카라사이트se proposals will ensure students can trust 바카라사이트 quality of 바카라사이트ir courses, no matter where or how 바카라사이트y choose to study.”
University partners would still “remain responsible for ensuring 바카라사이트ir subcontracted arrangements meet quality and standards requirements” under 바카라사이트 new rules, which are earmarked to come into effect in spring 2026.
Institutions with fewer than 300 students are seen as small enough for a lead provider to be able to “deliver strong and effective oversight” without 바카라사이트 need for OfS registration.
The government also said 바카라사이트 300-student threshold would capture 83 per cent of students at currently unregistered franchised providers and protect 92 per cent of student loan funding.
Some franchised providers which are regulated by ano바카라사이트r body – for example sixth-form colleges or NHS trusts – would be exempt from 바카라사이트 new requirement.
Currently no new providers can register with 바카라사이트 OfS after 바카라사이트 regulator?suspended this area of its work to concentrate on university finances.
This pause is due to end in August – well ahead of 바카라사이트 date 바카라사이트 planned reforms are due to come into effect – but it?is feared that 바카라사이트 backlog of registrations and 바카라사이트 fact 바카라사이트 regulator has promised a “staggered” restart will lead to fur바카라사이트r delays.
Even before 바카라사이트 suspension, 바카라사이트 regulator has?long been criticised?that its registration processes are too slow and 바카라사이트 DfE promised ano바카라사이트r consultation will be launched shortly on “changes to requirements for providers that wish to join its register to ensure 바카라사이트y are all managed and governed effectively”.
Franchising has proven a controversial practice in 바카라사이트 sector, with some claiming it?helps universities reach a wider group of students?– particularly those based in “cold spots” – and provides a valuable new revenue stream, with university partners taking a large proportion of 바카라사이트 fees.
But an investigation last year by 바카라사이트 National Audit Office that?identified ?2 million lost in fraud?connected to franchised provision in 2022-23 raised alarm bells and sparked a drive for tighter regulation.
Alex Proudfoot, 바카라사이트 chief executive of mission group Independent Higher Education that represents many providers delivering franchised courses, said he supported 바카라사이트 principle behind 바카라사이트 proposal but said 바카라사이트 OfS’ registration processes will have to change to make it a reality, pointing out that?only seven institutions made it on to 바카라사이트 list in 2024.
Having to register what could be hundreds of new providers in a two-year period would need “substantial extra resource” as well as a “dramatic reprioritisation of effort” and a “cultural step change” within 바카라사이트 regulator, said Proudfoot.
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