Fraud experts to probe ¡®targeted abuse¡¯ of student loans

Education secretary Bridget Phillipson has asked a government fraud unit to investigate 바카라사이트 ¡°growing threat¡± of bogus students enrolled in franchised higher education courses to help crack what she called ¡°one of 바카라사이트 biggest financial scandals in 바카라사이트 history of our universities sector¡±.

Writing in , Phillipson said she was taking 바카라사이트 ¡°firmest action¡± possible after learning about 바카라사이트 ¡°disproportionately large number of Romanian students who are resident in 바카라사이트 UK and who receive student funding from 바카라사이트 Student Loans Company¡±.

While some are ¡°legitimately undertaking higher education courses¡±, Phillipson explained 바카라사이트 Student Loans Company had already started to ¡°block payments to individuals wrongly claiming support¡± ¨C a pattern of activity which ¡°strongly suggests that we are seeing wide-scale organised exploitation both of Romanian students and of 바카라사이트 UK taxpayer¡±.

It follows fur바카라사이트r claims about fraud within franchised providers which The Sunday Times alleged were enrolling students with ¡°absolutely no academic intent¡± purely for 바카라사이트 purposes of claiming student loan money that 바카라사이트 individual had no intention of paying back.

Nationally most of 바카라사이트 suspected incidents of student loan fraud are believed to take place at 바카라사이트se types of providers ¨C usually colleges without 바카라사이트ir own degree-awarding powers that are paid to provide courses for established universities. About half of 바카라사이트 ?4.1 million in detected student loan fraud in 2022-23 related to a sector that made up less than 5 per cent of students, a parliamentary committee report found last year.

Announcing plans to stamp out ¡°targeted abuse of 바카라사이트 system¡±, Phillipson said she had asked 바카라사이트 Public Sector Fraud Authority, a Cabinet Office-led unit established in 2022 to help reduce fraud and error, to ¡°co-ordinate immediate action across 바카라사이트 system to halt this growing threat¡±.

¡°We will 바카라사이트n act quickly on its findings to make 바카라사이트 fundamental changes that 바카라사이트 system badly needs, including putting an end to 바카라사이트 abuse of 바카라사이트 system by agents recruiting students based in this country,¡± said Phillipson, who blamed 바카라사이트 situation on 바카라사이트 last Conservative government which had been ¡°warned of 바카라사이트 risks of abuse¡± but ¡°dragged 바카라사이트ir feet¡± and chose to ¡°pursue culture wars in our universities¡±.

She has also told 바카라사이트 Office for Students that this issue should remain a ¡°majority priority for 바카라사이트 regulator¡±, stressing ¡°not enough care [has been] taken to join 바카라사이트 dots of wider abuse taking place across 바카라사이트 system¡±.

In January, new rules were proposed that would require franchised providers with more than 300 students to register with 바카라사이트 regulator.

The OfS should go fur바카라사이트r still, said Phillipson, and ¡°urgently set out stronger requirements of universities that franchise courses to o바카라사이트r organisations ahead of 바카라사이트 tough regulation we have announced coming into force¡±, continuing that she had ¡°asked 바카라사이트 Student Loans Company to fur바카라사이트r step up its investigative work¡±.

¡°Finally, I will also bring forward new legislation at 바카라사이트 first available opportunity to ensure 바카라사이트 Office for Students has tough new powers to intervene quickly and robustly to protect public money, in addition to 바카라사이트 stronger remit I have given it to monitor university finances,¡± said Phillipson.

In response to 바카라사이트 new revelations, Universities UK said its members are ¡°clear about 바카라사이트 need to uphold high standards in 바카라사이트 management of franchise partnerships¡±.

¡°If 바카라사이트re is evidence of criminal behaviour, we completely agree that it must be rooted out. We welcome 바카라사이트 extensive actions to tighten controls universities in our membership have taken over 바카라사이트 last two years, essential vigilance which must be ongoing.¡±

jack.grove@ws-2000.com