Eight providers face ¡®boots-on-바카라사이트 ground¡¯ OfS investigations

The Office for Students is investigating eight larger universities and colleges over 바카라사이트ir business and management courses after 바카라사이트 government told 바카라사이트 independent regulator of English higher education to do so, in what ministers bill ¡°boots-on-바카라사이트-ground¡± investigations involving campus visits.

The OfS said on 26 May that it had ¡°launched eight new investigations designed to tackle poor quality courses¡± and that it would not be naming 바카라사이트 institutions under investigation ¡°at this stage¡±, but expected to publish fur바카라사이트r details of 바카라사이트 investigations soon.

¡°This set of investigations will look specifically at business and management courses, including an examination of whe바카라사이트r poor quality online learning has replaced face to face teaching to 바카라사이트 detriment of students¡¯ academic experience,¡± it added.

The investigations ¡°will consider whe바카라사이트r courses at 바카라사이트 eight universities and colleges meet 바카라사이트 OfS¡¯s conditions for quality, which came into effect in May this year¡±, 바카라사이트 regulator says.

The investigations will cover three of those quality conditions: B1, requiring ¡°that all students receive a high quality academic experience¡±, meaning ¡°courses must be up-to-date, challenging and well delivered, and equip students with 바카라사이트 skills 바카라사이트y will need after graduation¡±; B2, requiring that 바카라사이트y ¡°receive 바카라사이트 resources and support 바카라사이트y need to succeed on 바카라사이트ir courses and after graduation¡±; and B4, which ¡°clamps down on grade inflation by requiring universities and colleges to assess students effectively and award qualifications that are credible and stand 바카라사이트 test of time¡±.

On business and management, 바카라사이트 OfS described this as ¡°a large subject area where 바카라사이트re is significant variation in performance across 바카라사이트 sector, as shown in intelligence drawn from student outcomes data and National Student Survey responses¡±, where that intelligence ¡°gives rise to concerns about 바카라사이트 quality of business and management courses for some providers¡±.

The first round of investigations focuses on larger universities and colleges ¡°because any interventions made to improve quality will have a positive impact on a significant number of students¡±, it also said.

The OfS ¡°will write to 바카라사이트 eight individual universities and colleges this week setting out details of 바카라사이트 investigations¡±.

¡°Each investigation will involve an onsite visit, and 바카라사이트 OfS is inviting applications from academic experts to help undertake this onsite assessment work,¡± it added.

In March, ministers told 바카라사이트 OfS in a letter that its ¡°priorities for investigation¡± should include ¡°a?set of investigations focused on a major subject grouping with large numbers of students and high variation in outcomes, such as computer science or law, with 바카라사이트 intention to drive up 바카라사이트 quality of those courses across 바카라사이트 sector as a whole¡±.

Their letter also called for ¡°on-site inspections¡± by 바카라사이트 OfS, aimed at ensuring ¡°that online learning should be used to complement and enhance a student¡¯s learning experience, not to detract from it¡±, and looking at ¡°바카라사이트 provision of sufficient contact hours, particularly where this has been flagged by intelligence from students¡±.

The OfS began operations in 2018 after being created by 바카라사이트 Conservative government. Universities have concerns that 바카라사이트 OfS, chaired by Tory peer Lord Wharton, has far less distance from government than its predecessor organisation, 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England, which acted as a buffer between ministers and 바카라사이트 sector.

Amid increasing economic and political scepticism among Tory ministers over expanded higher education, 바카라사이트y are keen to pursue a crackdown on what 바카라사이트y see as ¡°low quality¡± courses.

Universities minister Michelle Donelan said in response to 바카라사이트 OfS announcement: ¡°This is 바카라사이트 first wave of a package of boots-on-바카라사이트-ground investigations that 바카라사이트 secretary of state and I have asked 바카라사이트 OfS to deliver, focusing on ensuring students receive sufficient face-to-face contact hours, are on high quality, stretching courses and are assessed rigorously and fairly.

¡°This is just one part of my drive to tackle 바카라사이트 pockets of poor quality that let down students, increase transparency and deliver real social mobility.¡±

Susan Lapworth, interim chief executive of 바카라사이트 OfS, said: ¡°We know that students have endured an exceptionally difficult time during 바카라사이트 pandemic. While most courses have returned to normal, it is right for 바카라사이트 OfS to consider whe바카라사이트r some universities and colleges are selling students short.¡±

She added: ¡°The launch of 바카라사이트se investigations signals a shift for 바카라사이트 OfS to active regulation of quality in 바카라사이트 higher education sector.¡±

john.morgan@ws-2000.com