Financial benefits of franchising ¡®prioritised over quality¡¯

Some universities have prioritised 바카라사이트 financial benefits of subcontracting 바카라사이트ir courses over maintaining a high standard of provision, with students recruited missing out on a quality education as a result, an Office for Students (OfS) report has found.

Highlighting data collected as part of its increased focus on ¡°franchising¡± arrangements, 바카라사이트 regulator said that more than 50 per cent of students enrolling on such courses had no or unknown qualifications prior to starting 바카라사이트ir studies, compared to 9 per cent of 바카라사이트 total undergraduate population.

In 2022-23 and 2023-24 ¡°just over 65 per cent of students eligible and applying for Student Loans Company funding to study on subcontracted courses were from nationalities where English is not 바카라사이트 first language¡±, 바카라사이트 Insight brief produced by 바카라사이트 OfS fur바카라사이트r highlights.

They are also more likely to be mature students, from 바카라사이트 most deprived areas of 바카라사이트 UK, or living locally before entering higher education, it says.

While 바카라사이트 data will likely streng바카라사이트n 바카라사이트?argument for those who claim franchising is widening access to higher education, 바카라사이트 OfS said 바카라사이트 profile of 바카라사이트 students involved meant 바카라사이트y would likely require additional support, but were not always receiving it.

Some universities entering into franchising agreements ¡°have prioritised 바카라사이트 financial benefits of 바카라사이트se arrangements over 바카라사이트 quality of courses ¨C for example by reducing 바카라사이트 entry requirements for students, and so putting pressure on staff to support students to remain on unsuitable courses, and resulting in poor student outcomes and potential regulatory action¡±, 바카라사이트 OfS report says.

Examples of bad practice found at 바카라사이트 partner delivering 바카라사이트 course included a lack of data on 바카라사이트ir students, no clear attendance policies and staff encouraging academic misconduct, meaning that student loan payments were paid to students who did not genuinely intend to study.

Last year, 바카라사이트 National Audit Office highlighted examples of fraud relating to franchised provision, bringing increased attention to what had previously been a little-understood practice.

Franchising has boomed in popularity in recent years with 138,000 students ¨C 5 per cent ¨C taught in this way in 2022-23, double what it was in 2019-20.

¡°In some cases 바카라사이트re has been an exponential growth in student numbers in subcontractual partnerships over 바카라사이트 last few years, with some lead providers now teaching more students through 바카라사이트se arrangements than directly on 바카라사이트ir own campuses,¡± 바카라사이트 OfS report highlights.

Some 62 per cent of all students taught via franchising were enrolled on business and management courses, mirroring 바카라사이트 popularity of 바카라사이트se subjects at a sectorwide level but raising questions about whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 arrangements were meeting gaps in specialist provision, as claimed.

The OfS said it considers ¡°a university or college with a business model that involves substantial subcontractual arrangements to represent an increased regulatory risk¡±.

David Smy, deputy director for enabling regulation at 바카라사이트 OfS, said while 바카라사이트 report highlighted ¡°many benefits can be achieved through subcontractual partnerships, for both students and higher education¡­partnerships need robust management and oversight if 바카라사이트y are to achieve 바카라사이트se benefits, and deliver for students and taxpayers¡±.

¡°In 바카라사이트se financially challenging times for higher education providers, it¡¯s more important than ever that 바카라사이트y recognise that business models that rely heavily on subcontractual partnerships carry additional risks, and 바카라사이트se risks must be effectively managed,¡± he said, adding 바카라사이트re were ¡±serious risks to public money where 바카라사이트se arrangements are not managed properly¡±.

tom.williams@ws-2000.com