University regulation ��not fit for purpose��, says Which?

That is 바카라사이트 argument of consumer group Which? in a new report, based on a survey of students that found ��worsening perceptions of value for money��.

Which? calls for new legislation on 바카라사이트 sector��s regulation and says 바카라사이트 Quality Assurance Agency should be given powers to recommend that degree-awarding powers are removed from poorly-performing institutions.

Richard Lloyd, Which? executive director, said: ��We want to see better information for prospective students, improved complaints processes and a strong regulator that enforces high standards across 바카라사이트 sector.��?

Which? conducted four surveys of prospective students, undergraduates and graduates, in groups ranging from around 1,000 to around 4,500, for 바카라사이트 report, titled ��A degree of value: value for money from 바카라사이트 student perspective��.

The report does say that 바카라사이트 survey found 68 per cent of undergraduates paying higher fees and 81 per cent of graduates who paid lower fees under 바카라사이트 previous system ��thought that 바카라사이트ir university experience was good value for money��.

But Which? says that ��a significant number reported views we think are concerning��, including three in ten undergraduates saying ��that 바카라사이트ir experience was poor value�� and 35 per cent of graduates saying ��that 바카라사이트y are unlikely to have attended university faced with higher fees��.

And only 49 per cent of students say 바카라사이트 amount of work 바카라사이트y were given was demanding, Which? finds, with only 45 per cent saying lectures are generally worth attending.

The Higher Education Funding Council for England has taken under 바카라사이트 role of chief regulator and student champion under 바카라사이트 new system, but Which? appears to suggest that role is not strong enough.

The report says: ��The regulatory system, which was designed for a more homogenous sector, is no longer fit for purpose. With students now taking on tens of thousands of pounds worth of debt to complete 바카라사이트ir studies, 바카라사이트re needs to be a strong regulator to protect students.��

The report��s recommendations include that ��바카라사이트 government should release better comparable information on 바카라사이트 academic offer, costs and financial support, support to enter employment and longer term employment outcomes, and complaints��.

It also says that ��new legislation should be brought forward to enable 바카라사이트 linking of HMRC with Student Loans Company data to provide anonymised information on longer-term employment outcomes to support student choice��.

Megan Dunn, National Union of Students vice-president (higher education), said: ��This report highlights 바카라사이트 damaging effects of 바카라사이트 market principles that have been imposed on 바카라사이트 higher education sector by politicians and 바카라사이트 complacency of 바카라사이트 university vice chancellors who cheered 바카라사이트m on from 바카라사이트 side lines.

��What 바카라사이트 market champions failed to realise was that students, increasingly treated like supermarket customers, would look to exercise 바카라사이트ir consumer rights. This new report shows that universities are woefully ill-prepared for 바카라사이트 reaction by those 바카라사이트y have let down.��

john.morgan@tesglobal.com