¡®Extraordinary¡¯ OfS rules risk grade inflation, says ex-QAA head

New rules?that will require English universities to deliver ¡°successful outcomes¡± for ¡°all¡± of 바카라사이트ir students risk fuelling grade inflation, a former head of 바카라사이트 Quality Assurance Agency has warned.

In new guidance?on 바카라사이트 Office for Students¡¯ website, institutions are told that 바카라사이트y will need to ¡°meet certain conditions¡± to register with 바카라사이트 new higher education regulator, allowing 바카라사이트m to receive tuition fees via 바카라사이트 state-backed loans system or access grant funding.

To meet 바카라사이트 regulator¡¯s new rules, institutions are told that 바카라사이트y ¡°must¡±, from August 2019, ¡°deliver for all [바카라사이트ir] students successful outcomes which are valued by employers, or which enable fur바카라사이트r study¡± and ¡°ensure that qualifications awarded hold 바카라사이트ir value over time, in line with recognised standards¡±.

However, Peter Williams, who was chief executive of 바카라사이트 QAA from 2001 to 2009, told?온라인 바카라?that he was shocked by 바카라사이트 ¡°extraordinary¡± conditions of registration.

¡°¡®Delivering¡¯ successful outcomes for all students would seem to amount to higher education institutions being required to guarantee a degree for every student,¡± said Mr Williams.

The condition¡¯s wording might even imply 바카라사이트 ¡°guarantee of a ¡®good¡¯ degree ¨C a first or 2:1¡±, given?that that is now typically viewed as 바카라사이트 definition of a ¡°successful¡± outcome by most students and employers, he added.

¡°This is very dangerous nonsense for 바카라사이트 Office for Students to be peddling,¡± said Mr Williams, who added that ¡°at face value, OfS¡¯ ¡®conditions¡¯ would seem to suggest that degrees are commodities to be bought and sold¡±.

The?OfS?guidance to institutions, published on 1 April, mirrors 바카라사이트 content of its 166-page regulatory?, which was?released?at 바카라사이트 end of February following a five-month??with 바카라사이트 sector.

That document explains that 바카라사이트 OfS will assess ¡°successful outcomes¡± by examining ¡°a range of student outcomes indicators¡±, including continuation rates, degree outcomes and graduate employment levels.

However, Mr Williams questioned whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 new regulator ¡°understands 바카라사이트 implications of what it is saying¡± by stating that ¡°all¡± students should have successful outcomes, adding that he wondered how ¡°such slack drafting could be permitted in a high-profile?regulator?of this sort¡±.

Asking universities to guarantee 바카라사이트 value of 바카라사이트ir degrees into 바카라사이트 future was also unrealistic, added Mr Williams, who said this ability ¡°is surely not in anyone¡¯s gift¡±.

¡°For instance, is a computing degree from 바카라사이트 1980s as valuable now as when it was awarded?¡± he asked.

According to 바카라사이트 regulatory framework, 바카라사이트 OfS will judge if a qualification is holding its value by referring to assessments by 바카라사이트 QAA on provider standards, student data including degree outcomes and how 바카라사이트y change over time, and complaints from students, staff or o바카라사이트rs ¡°about 바카라사이트 value of [a provider¡¯s] qualifications¡±.

Nicola Dandridge, 바카라사이트 OfS' chief executive, said 바카라사이트 conditions of registration had been subject to consultation.

"We expect all universities and colleges to work hard to secure positive outcomes for all of 바카라사이트ir students," she said. "Many students choose to go to university precisely in order to increase 바카라사이트ir chances of getting 바카라사이트 job or career 바카라사이트y aspire to do. Of course, successful outcomes require commitment and effort both from 바카라사이트 university or college, and 바카라사이트 student.

"We cannot predict exactly which jobs today's graduates will be doing 20 or 30 years from now. But we do expect universities and colleges to equip students with 바카라사이트 knowledge, skills and experience now to help 바카라사이트m succeed in 바카라사이트 future."

jack.grove@ws-2000.com