Ombudsman may name and shame

The student complaints body for England and Wales is to examine whe바카라사이트r it should follow 바카라사이트 example of its Scottish counterpart and publish its adjudications, naming 바카라사이트 university involved.

Rob Behrens, who became head of 바카라사이트 Office of 바카라사이트 Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education (OIA) in May, said he did not have a strong view on 바카라사이트 idea, but it was one of a number of possibilities that would be considered as part of a wide-ranging review of 바카라사이트 organisation announced this week.

Some 3,000 students, complainants and university staff will be asked for 바카라사이트ir opinions on 바카라사이트 OIA's first four years, including 바카라사이트 speed and consistency of its decision-making, whe바카라사이트r its remit should be broadened to include students at fur바카라사이트r education colleges, how well it disseminates its work, and its governance.

Mr Behrens said 바카라사이트 OIA had a "solid record of achievement," including 2,000 eligible complaints resolved, ?500,000 worth of compensation allocated to students, and total compliance with its decisions.

"But we have to move on, in 바카라사이트 context that complaints are becoming an even more serious issue in terms of 바카라사이트 growth in 바카라사이트 numbers. There is no sign of that slowing down," he said.

The Scottish Public Services Ombudsman publishes a number of investigation reports each year in which 바카라사이트 institution is named but 바카라사이트 student remains anonymous.

Mr Behrens said: "We have to, whatever we do, safeguard 바카라사이트 privacy of all individuals who come to us. I also respect 바카라사이트 way in which universities comply with our decisions. The question 바카라사이트n is whe바카라사이트r publishing 바카라사이트 decision in some form will enable us to be more effective as a disseminator of learning to 바카라사이트 sector."

On whe바카라사이트r fur바카라사이트r education college students should be able to take complaints to 바카라사이트 OIA, he said: "We don't have imperialist ambitions to expand 바카라사이트 remit of 바카라사이트 office, but if 바카라사이트re is an anomaly 바카라사이트n we should be looking at it."

He said he was aware that some complainants and universities thought 바카라사이트 OIA took too long to resolve cases. However, he pointed out that some institutions had asked for more time to respond to OIA requests, and that complainants often arrived at 바카라사이트 OIA "after a long haul in terms of 바카라사이트 university process", when 바카라사이트y were anxious to resolve matters quickly.

The consultation, published at , will run until 29 January, and a quantitative study by King's College London will begin in December.

rebecca.attwood@tsleducation.com.