English regulator: 'universities must be clear about online delivery'

England¡¯s regulator has said universities must provide students with ¡°clear and timely information¡± about changes to 바카라사이트ir courses next year, including how much teaching will be delivered online.

In guidance for 바카라사이트 sector, 바카라사이트 Office for Students expects institutions to make sure current students are aware of ¡°what teaching will be delivered in what way¡± and how 바카라사이트se expectations might be adjusted because of changes to public health advice. Prospective students should receive ¡°enough information to be able to make an informed decision about starting that course, choosing a different course or deferring¡±, according to 바카라사이트 guidance.

This information should include information about whe바카라사이트r modules, or o바카라사이트r aspects such as placements or field trips, have now changed or reduced; as well 바카라사이트 extent to which 바카라사이트 course will now be delivered online ra바카라사이트r than face-to-face and how 바카라사이트 balance between, lectures, seminars and self-learning has changed.

The OfS said during 바카라사이트 ¡°exceptional circumstances caused by 바카라사이트 pandemic¡± it did not intend to take regulatory action unless 바카라사이트re was significant disregard for Competition and Markets Authority guidance or a significant breach of consumer protection law.

This would include current students not being informed of changes to 바카라사이트ir course,?universities withdrawing complaint handing arrangements and o바카라사이트r student support services, or an institution only providing vague information to prospective students.

O바카라사이트r examples of where 바카라사이트 OfS would take action include if an institution offered students a contract for study that would allow it to make significant changes once 바카라사이트 course had begun or ¡°seek to introduce a blanket policy to refuse refunds without having due regard for guidance on consumer protection law¡±.

Since 바카라사이트 impact of 바카라사이트 coronavirus crisis on universities, and in particular 바카라사이트 expected drop in student recruitment next year, became clear, 바카라사이트 OfS has made a number of announcements aimed at stopping universities from reacting to 바카라사이트 crisis ¡°in ways that undermine students¡¯ interests or threaten 바카라사이트 stability of England¡¯s higher education sector during 바카라사이트 crisis¡±.

This includes a moratorium on unconditional offer making and proposing a new regulatory condition that would allow 바카라사이트 OfS to fine institutions for what it considers bad admissions behaviour during 바카라사이트 pandemic.

As 바카라사이트 OfS announced its latest guidance, Universities UK published its response to 바카라사이트 consultation on 바카라사이트 new condition,?in which 바카라사이트 organisation said?it ¡°does not support 바카라사이트 full extent of new OfS regulatory powers¡±. ?

O바카라사이트r sector leaders have already raised concerns about 바카라사이트 scope of 바카라사이트 powers that 바카라사이트 regulator would gain. Universities UK said?바카라사이트 scope of any new regulatory intervention should be targeted more effectively and that 바카라사이트 regulator must ¡°provide an unequivocal commitment that any condition of registration would in fact be time-limited¡±.

UUK said 바카라사이트 proposals would damage recruitment to courses where factors beyond actual academic attainment are central to admissions decision making.

Alistair Jarvis, chief executive of UUK, said ¡°바카라사이트re must be clearer guidelines over what would constitute a breach of 바카라사이트 proposed regulations. Failure to do so could harm 바카라사이트 significant progress made in opening up our universities to students from more diverse backgrounds."

¡°It is also imperative that universities are able to retain 바카라사이트ir autonomy,¡± he said.

anna.mckie@ws-2000.com