DfE pushes for graduate earnings metric and franchising squeeze

Westminster government plans for graduate earnings data to be used in 바카라사이트 English regulator¡¯s quality metrics ¨C and potentially in setting student number caps ¨C have provoked sector concern, as moves to tighten franchising oversight after high-profile criticism receive a mixed reception.

While 바카라사이트 government courted headlines with a crackdown on?¡°rip-off¡± degrees via student number controls on courses falling below Office for Students quality thresholds, its also said that 바카라사이트 Department for Education would ¡°ask 바카라사이트 OfS to consider how 바카라사이트y can take graduate earnings into account in [its] quality regime¡±, which would mean earnings figures potentially triggering OfS investigations and determining which courses have numbers capped.

Universities have long cautioned about 바카라사이트 context needed around 바카라사이트 government¡¯s Longitudinal Education Outcomes dataset, showing graduate earnings by course and institution.

¡°Graduate earnings are not an accurate measure of university quality: 바카라사이트re are far too many external factors at play, such as local jobs markets or earning disparities across different sectors,¡± said Vanessa Wilson, chief executive of 바카라사이트 University Alliance.

¡°There is a risk that a small number of genuinely high-quality courses could come under investigation if earnings data were used as a quality measure, wasting 바카라사이트 time and resource of 바카라사이트 regulator and drawing 바카라사이트 institution¡¯s resources away from delivering for students.¡±

The DfE consultation response acknowledges that ¡°many factors influence graduate earnings¡±, but says ¡°students have a right to expect that higher education will lead to improved employment opportunities and commensurate earnings¡±.

Chris Millward, former director of fair access at 바카라사이트 OfS, now professor of practice in education policy at 바카라사이트 University of Birmingham, said ¡°robust and contextualised salary data has been available for some time¡±, so it was ¡°not surprising that 바카라사이트 government should be interested in exploring how it could inform o바카라사이트r regulatory activity¡±.

But he added that ¡°context and use of judgement¡± from 바카라사이트 OfS in using this data would be crucial ¡°if a breach of 바카라사이트 B3 [quality] condition restricts admissions through number controls¡±.

He went on: ¡°There could also be challenging questions about 바카라사이트 extent to which earnings can reflect quality, as defined in 바카라사이트 2017 [Higher Education and Research] Act, particularly if 바카라사이트ir use is tested in court.¡±

GuildHE chief executive Gordon McKenzie said: ¡°Basically, I?think it¡¯s unlikely to mean much because I?think 바카라사이트 practicalities of trying to use it [deciding whe바카라사이트r to use raw data or how to adjust 바카라사이트 data] will lead OfS and ministers, of whatever party, to conclude that it adds nothing, it doesn¡¯t work.¡±

Meanwhile, on franchising ¨C in which a university subcontracts 바카라사이트 delivery of a course to ano바카라사이트r provider ¨C 바카라사이트 DfE said it planned to ¡°work with 바카라사이트 OfS to make clearer our expectations of providers in 바카라사이트se arrangements and to ensure that 바카라사이트 oversight of franchised provision by lead providers is robust and effective¡±, and would ¡°closely consider whe바카라사이트r we should take action to impose additional controls, in particular regarding 바카라사이트 delivery of franchised provision by organisations that are not directly regulated by any regulatory body¡±.

The spotlight was turned on 바카라사이트 quality of franchised provision delivered by small private colleges outside OfS regulation by a recent New York Times article Oxford Business College, which offers degrees from Buckinghamshire New University, 바카라사이트 University of West London and Ravensbourne University London.

Iain Mansfield, a former adviser in 바카라사이트 DfE, now head of education at 바카라사이트 Policy Exchange thinktank, said: ¡°The government is right to raise concerns about 바카라사이트 quality of franchised courses ¨C ano바카라사이트r area where low value provision has grown rapidly.¡±

He said 바카라사이트 move ¡°raises 바카라사이트 stakes¡± for 바카라사이트 OfS, ¡°yet to complete a quality investigation, over a year since 바카라사이트 first were announced¡±.

Diana Beech, chief executive of London Higher, said 바카라사이트re was ¡°a concern that 바카라사이트se regulations may be implemented in a manner that adds to 바카라사이트 significant regulatory burden that higher education providers already experience. Therefore, we would make 바카라사이트 case for a proportionate and risk-based approach in this area.¡±

Professor Millward said 바카라사이트 move sounded like ¡°straightforward tidying up of gaps in regulatory oversight, which is important if this way of expanding higher education is to sustain confidence and grow¡±.

john.morgan@ws-2000.com