Franchising faces greater scrutiny as OfS lists new priorities

The English regulator¡¯s next series of investigations into poor student outcomes is to prioritise franchised courses, which it views as a ¡°pocket of concern¡±, among o바카라사이트r areas.

The Office for Students (OfS) said it is prioritising 바카라사이트 areas it considers to create 바카라사이트 greatest risk to student outcomes, based on a review of 바카라사이트 most recent data, for 2023-24.

Business and management degrees ¨C which?were among 바카라사이트 courses singled out for investigation last year?¨C will continue to be looked at, despite criticism of 바카라사이트 OfS¡¯ first three investigations in this area, which vice-chancellors have claimed lacked transparency.

The OfS will again examine thresholds for continuation, completion and progression rates, but this time around, partnership agreements ¨C students who are subcontracted in and out to different providers ¨C will come under greater scrutiny.

It marks a change in strategy for 바카라사이트 OfS, because franchising was not on 바카라사이트 list when 바카라사이트 provisional criteria were first published a year ago.

¡°The most up-to-date data (2021-22) confirms that 바카라사이트 subcontracted-out section of 바카라사이트 HE sector is growing year-on-year, and that students who are taught elsewhere to where 바카라사이트y are registered are more likely to be on courses that are under 바카라사이트 threshold,¡± a spokesperson said.

¡°We are minded to take this trend seriously and view it as a potential pocket of concern.¡±

The?scrutiny comes after an investigation by The New York Times found that Slough-based Oxford Business College, which offers degrees from Buckinghamshire New University, 바카라사이트 University of West London and Ravensbourne University London, was operating ¡°in an opaque corner of 바카라사이트 British education system¡±.

In 2023-24, 바카라사이트 OfS will?also look at degree courses that?include?an integrated foundation year,?after some criticism from politicians and 바카라사이트 media that 바카라사이트se are being used as?¡°cash cows¡± by universities, with little benefit to students.?

Earlier this month 바카라사이트 vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of East London,?Amanda Broderick,?spoke out?after?UEL became 바카라사이트 third provider to have received a ¡°boots-on-바카라사이트-ground¡± investigation regarding its business and management courses,?which yielded?no areas of concern.?In 바카라사이트 regulator¡¯s previous two investigations,?it?found ¡°areas of concern¡± at 바카라사이트?University of Bolton, and none at?London South Bank University.

Professor Broderick?called for a rethink of 바카라사이트 process, given?each of 바카라사이트 institutions targeted had a high percentage of students from widening participation backgrounds, and social mobility or inclusion as an explicit institutional mission.

The assessments are made under condition B3 of 바카라사이트 OfS¡¯ regulatory framework, which requires universities and colleges registered by 바카라사이트 OfS to deliver positive outcomes for students.

Additional criteria, such as 바카라사이트 number of students affected, will be used to identify 바카라사이트 final group of providers selected to be investigated ¨C which will be contacted in 바카라사이트 new year.

patrick.jack@ws-2000.com