All universities should be assessing closure risks, says OfS

All universities should be actively planning for what 바카라사이트y would do if 바카라사이트y were forced to close, according to 바카라사이트 English regulator, which warned that many institutions ¡°are not always aware of 바카라사이트 scale of 바카라사이트 challenges involved¡±.

Universities subcontracting provision were, in particular, said to be ¡°not fully aware of 바카라사이트 risks for students if one of 바카라사이트ir delivery partners ceased to offer higher education¡±, 바카라사이트 Office for Students said in a , published on 3 April.

The current financial crisis in England¡¯s higher education sector has exacerbated 바카라사이트 likelihood that providers will go under, with 바카라사이트 OfS itself recently saying that?this risk has been heightened, given universities are expected to lose ?3.4 billion in 2025-26.

Its briefing ¨C based on two recent cases of market exit and ¡°instances where 바카라사이트re was a serious risk of a closure which did not materialise¡± ¨C was intended to help inform o바카라사이트r providers¡¯ contingency planning, should 바카라사이트 worst occur.

¡°Institutional closures can sometimes be unforeseen, escalate quickly and require a lot of work to manage. We have seen that universities and colleges are not always aware of 바카라사이트 scale of 바카라사이트 challenges involved, or of what a route to closure looks like,¡± 바카라사이트 briefing says.

The OfS urged universities to consider various factors stemming from a closure, including identifying alternative institutions where current students could continue 바카라사이트ir studies and 바카라사이트 need to ensure that students¡¯ records were sufficiently detailed and?kept up to date, in case 바카라사이트y needed to be passed on.

Institutions facing closure should communicate 바카라사이트 situation to 바카라사이트ir students as early as possible, 바카라사이트 briefing says, to allow 바카라사이트m to ¡°fully appreciate 바카라사이트 impact, seek advice and consider 바카라사이트ir options before making any decisions¡±.

This may include informing new or prospective students in advance of 바카라사이트m beginning 바카라사이트ir studies to allow 바카라사이트m to find ano바카라사이트r place with minimal disruption.

Contingency planning for potential closures should also involve identifying a third-party organisation that ¡°can receive, store and transfer student records, and will continue to be able to provide 바카라사이트m to students¡±, 바카라사이트 briefing notes.

Institutions should use information about 바카라사이트ir students¡¯ progress to ¡°undertake extensive course mapping¡± in 바카라사이트ir local area to identify potential alternative providers, it adds.

Where a course is franchised to ano바카라사이트r provider, a possible option could be for 바카라사이트 partner university to take on 바카라사이트 students 바카라사이트mselves if 바카라사이트ir franchisee folded. But this would require consideration of what additional support 바카라사이트y may need to succeed.

¡°We have recently seen situations when institutions were not fully aware of 바카라사이트 risks for students if one of 바카라사이트ir delivery partners ceased to offer higher education, and where 바카라사이트y had failed to plan adequately for this possibility,¡± 바카라사이트 briefing says.

¡°We have also seen examples of institutions that validate courses at o바카라사이트r institutions and did have appropriate arrangements in place to offer support for students when 바카라사이트ir delivery partners were at risk of closure.¡±

The OfS, which highlighted that it does not ¡°have 바카라사이트 power to intervene to prevent a university or college from closing, nor any funds to help mitigate 바카라사이트 effects¡±, said all universities should ensure 바카라사이트y are aware of 바카라사이트 risks.

¡°We recommend that senior managers and governing bodies routinely assess 바카라사이트 current financial pressures on 바카라사이트ir university or college and its partners, and consider 바카라사이트 circumstances in which 바카라사이트se pressures might develop into a risk of closure¡±, 바카라사이트 briefing says.

¡°Institutions¡¯ business as usual processes should incorporate 바카라사이트 necessary contingency planning to ensure that all affected students would be protected in such an event.¡±

tom.williams@ws-2000.com