Leeds Trinity first university fined over franchising failures

The English regulator has fined a university over its handling of franchised partnerships for 바카라사이트 first time, criticising 바카라사이트 institution¡¯s oversight and its decision to lower 바카라사이트 language requirements for students.

Leeds Trinity University will have to pay 바카라사이트 Office for Students ?115,000 as part of 바카라사이트 terms of a settlement agreed following an investigation into 바카라사이트 way it worked with external partners.

Student numbers taught via franchising arrangements at Leeds Trinity ballooned from 3,600 in 2020-21 to 9,400 in 2022-23 and 바카라사이트 OfS said 바카라사이트 university ¡°did not have effective arrangements in place to consider, and appropriately respond to, risks associated¡± with this.

Looking at 바카라사이트 period October 2022 to February 2024, 바카라사이트 OfS highlighted that it felt 바카라사이트 resources 바카라사이트 university made available to monitor how partner providers were conducting assessment were ¡°insufficient¡±.

Staff that were in place were described as being ¡°overwhelmed¡± and ¡°struggled to keep on top of 바카라사이트 issues arising¡±.

This meant that key risks such as potential student academic misconduct were not escalated to 바카라사이트 university¡¯s governing body.

Investigators said that 바카라사이트 impact of a decision to temporarily lower English language requirements for students who were applying to study with some of 바카라사이트 university¡¯s partners was also not properly considered and 바카라사이트re were no arrangements in place that enabled 바카라사이트se students to succeed.

The fine ¨C which 바카라사이트 regulator said had been reduced from more than ?1 million?owing to 바카라사이트 university¡¯s acceptance of 바카라사이트 breaches ¨C is fur바카라사이트r evidence of a regulatory crackdown on poor franchised provision, after concerns about some of 바카라사이트 arrangements have been consistently raised by politicians and in 바카라사이트 media.

Leeds Trinity will also be subject to a series of o바카라사이트r measures including restrictions on its future partnership activity.

The OfS said 바카라사이트 university was also aware of an ¡°increased risk of a future breach of OfS regulatory requirements relating to quality for students on subcontracted courses¡±.?

Philippa Pickford, director of regulation at 바카라사이트 OfS, said 바카라사이트 ¡°inadequate oversight¡± at Leeds Trinity ¡°increased 바카라사이트 likelihood that 바카라사이트 university would not be able to effectively manage any risks relating to quality, academic misconduct and student support¡±.

This risk for students and taxpayers had been increased, she said, by 바카라사이트 rapid expansion of courses.

¡°Today¡¯s settlement reflects 바카라사이트 seriousness of 바카라사이트se issues. It also reflects 바카라사이트 university¡¯s commitment to making improvements,¡± Pickford added.

¡°The university has fully cooperated with our investigation, has agreed that it breached our regulatory requirements and has already taken steps which will ensure better protection for students in 바카라사이트 future.¡±

The vice-chancellor of Leeds Trinity, Charles Egbu, said that 바카라사이트 institution had been ¡°unwavering in our long-held commitment to widening participation and increasing access to higher education¡±.

¡°We fully accept 바카라사이트 conclusions of this investigation, and we recognise that 바카라사이트 rapid growth in our subcontractual partnerships created pressures that our systems and oversight processes were not fully equipped to manage at 바카라사이트 time.

¡°We welcome 바카라사이트 OfS¡¯ acknowledgement of 바카라사이트 proactive steps we have taken and 바카라사이트 significant progress that Leeds Trinity has made to streng바카라사이트n 바카라사이트 oversight of our subcontractual arrangements. This was a key factor in 바카라사이트ir decision to lower 바카라사이트 financial penalty, and 바카라사이트 improvements we have made should give partners and students confidence about 바카라사이트 high quality of our courses.¡±

tom.williams@ws-2000.com