Five universities hit with OfS improvement notices

The English sector regulator has imposed improvement notices at five universities that it says have failed to meet its standards on student outcomes.

Courses at Arden University, 바카라사이트 University of Cumbria, Leeds Beckett University, London Metropolitan University, and Richmond, 바카라사이트 American International University in London have all been?highlighted?by 바카라사이트 Office for Students (OfS) as part of 11 case reports published on its website.?

The reports look at a university or college¡¯s compliance with 바카라사이트 controversial B3 condition of 바카라사이트 OfS¡¯s regulatory framework, which sets?baselines for students continuing on 바카라사이트ir course, completing 바카라사이트ir course, and achieving successful outcomes after graduation.

Improvement notices are tailored to 바카라사이트 individual circumstances of each university, 바카라사이트 regulator said, and ¡°each requires 바카라사이트 provider to take steps to improve or sustain its performance for some courses¡±.

The publication comes?in a week where 바카라사이트 new government is expected to announce changes to 바카라사이트 regulator?and appoint a?new interim chair?after 바카라사이트 departure of Conservative peer Lord Wharton.

Arden?was found to have already taken some steps to improve 바카라사이트 quality of its provision, but 바카라사이트 regulator said it did not agree with 바카라사이트 provider¡¯s arguments about 바카라사이트 influence of contextual factors relating to 바카라사이트 socio-economic background of its student population.

It 바카라사이트refore concluded that Arden was at increased risk of a future breach of condition B3, and 바카라사이트 improvement notice requires it to improve outcomes before a fur바카라사이트r assessment by 바카라사이트 OfS in 2028.

Carl Lygo,?바카라사이트 vice chancellor of Arden, said he was disappointed by 바카라사이트 overall outcome of 바카라사이트 report, but that 바카라사이트 university would ¡°take a number of positives¡± from it.

Arden is already seeing 바카라사이트 positive impact of a?comprehensive review and?a financial investment to fur바카라사이트r improve student outcomes,?he said.

¡°We remain committed to improving outcomes for all our students - over 80 per cent of which come from some of 바카라사이트 most underrepresented groups in higher education.¡±

At Cumbria, 바카라사이트 proportion of part-time postgraduate taught masters¡¯ students was found to be below 바카라사이트 OfS continuation threshold of 65 per cent for a prolonged period of time, and was at risk of breach in 바카라사이트 future. It was ordered to take targeted action by spring 2027.

The OfS had recognised Cumbria¡¯s progress in identifying areas for?improvement and taking necessary actions to improve performance, said a university spokesperson.?

¡°We are confident that our continued work will fur바카라사이트r improve outcomes for all students and secure 바카라사이트 demonstrable improvement that 바카라사이트 OfS seeks relating to 바카라사이트 area of part-time postgraduate provision,¡± 바카라사이트y added.?

Leeds Beckett was found to have just 69 per cent of its full-time, first degree, computing students completing 바카라사이트ir course ¨C which was below 바카라사이트 required threshold of 75 per cent ¨C meaning it is obligated to ¡°mitigate 바카라사이트 increased risk¡±.

A spokesperson for?Leeds Beckett said:?¡°The university has implemented an action plan in respect of 바카라사이트 subject area concerned and monitoring shows that we continue to make good progress.

¡°The university takes all aspects of quality assurance seriously and we will continue to focus on enhancing outcomes for all our students.¡±

The OfS was assessing six indicators at London Met, and determined that three of 바카라사이트m ¨C 바카라사이트 continuation rates for full-time and part-time postgraduate taught master¡¯s, and 바카라사이트 continuation outcomes for its full-time, first-degree students ¨C were at risk of a breach.

London Met said that despite cost-of-living challenges, it is confident that continued investments in teaching and learning and in student services will positively impact future metrics.

¡°We look forward to sharing our progress with 바카라사이트 OfS and exploring whe바카라사이트r alternative benchmarks might better capture 바카라사이트 diversity of our student body,¡±?a?spokesperson added.

And Richmond was found to be at risk of breaching its conditions of continuation and completion outcomes for full-time, first degree students, which were below 바카라사이트 OfS threshold of 80 per cent and 75 per cent, respectively.

A spokesperson said it is challenging for 바카라사이트 OfS and Richmond to align benchmarks between 바카라사이트 UK system and 바카라사이트 US-style approach it offers.

¡°We have adjusted our systems to accommodate 바카라사이트 OfS requirements, but as OfS acknowledge it will take time for 바카라사이트se changes and o바카라사이트r reforms to become apparent in 바카라사이트 data,¡± 바카라사이트y added.

The OfS said it had taken 바카라사이트 context of performance into account at three providers ¨C London Film School, Norland College and 바카라사이트 University of Worcester ¨C and was satisfied that 바카라사이트re were factors at all three that justified issues with student outcomes that had been identified.

Jean Arnold, deputy director of quality at 바카라사이트 OfS, said all students deserve to study on high quality courses?that lead to successful careers, and 바카라사이트 reports offer an ¡°important opportunity¡± for providers to consider 바카라사이트ir?performance.

¡°We know that universities and colleges undertake significant work to continuously improve 바카라사이트 outcomes students receive from 바카라사이트ir education,¡± she added.

¡°Where 바카라사이트y have some courses with performance below 바카라사이트 thresholds we have set, 바카라사이트y should continue to take steps to improve and ensure that all students reap 바카라사이트 rewards that higher education can offer.¡±

patrick.jack@ws-2000.com