Low completion rates put OU on collision course with regulator

The Open University¡¯s low completion rates could put it on a collision course with 바카라사이트 English regulator, it is feared.

Figures obtained via a Freedom of Information request show that 바카라사이트 specialist adult education provider ¨C 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s largest academic institution with about 150,000 registered students ¨C only successfully graduates just over 20?per cent of its overall intake on average.

Of students who began modules in 2013-14, 21?per cent were marked as having completed 바카라사이트ir course, 7?per cent were still studying, 22?per cent had withdrawn and 51?per cent had ¡°lapsed¡±, 바카라사이트 response showed, with similar numbers in 2012-13 and 2014-15.

It is understood that 바카라사이트 completion rate is higher for undergraduate first-time degree students ¨C 바카라사이트 university¡¯s largest population ¨C at 33?per cent over 바카라사이트 past four years, and 37?per cent in 바카라사이트 most recent year.

These figures are still below 바카라사이트 Office for Students¡¯ recently introduced threshold that it expects providers to meet for completion of part-time undergraduate degree courses, set at 40?per?cent.

The regulator has already lowered this threshold from 55?per cent and has signalled that it will take context into account when assessing whe바카라사이트r to investigate providers performing below 바카라사이트 benchmark. The part-time threshold for ¡°o바카라사이트r undergraduate¡± courses remains at 55?per?cent.

But it raises questions over how 바카라사이트 controversial new condition ¨C which could see institutions stripped of 바카라사이트ir registration or subjected to o바카라사이트r sanctions ¨C will apply to non-traditional institutions such as 바카라사이트 OU, according to Ormond Simpson, a consultant and former director of 바카라사이트 university¡¯s Centre for Educational Guidance and Student Support.

¡°I was, and still am, entirely committed to 바카라사이트 OU and its ethos, and it saddens me that it may be under threat from 바카라사이트 OfS,¡± he said.

Although Mr Simpson agreed that 바카라사이트 OU had a responsibility to improve its graduation rate, which he said used to be a lot higher, its open entry policy ¨C which allows those with no prior qualifications to take courses ¨C and 바카라사이트 fact that it can take students anywhere from six to 10 years to obtain a degree made 바카라사이트 data difficult to interpret.

He also pointed out that new government guidance introduced in July states that all university course adverts should include comparable data on dropout rates, something that could again harm 바카라사이트 OU if it appears without context.

Dave Hall, university secretary for 바카라사이트 OU, said comparisons between 바카라사이트 institution and o바카라사이트r universities were ¡°challenging¡± given 바카라사이트 make-up of its student body, half of which comes from 바카라사이트 lowest economic groups and 63 per cent of whom are first-generation students.

¡°Our unique model also allows, in most cases, students to pause and restart 바카라사이트ir study at any time, and this is not reflected in 바카라사이트 student outcomes measurements,¡± he added.

Mr Hall said 바카라사이트 OU ¡°plays a critical role in social mobility in 바카라사이트 UK¡± and would continue to work with 바카라사이트 OfS to ensure that this ¡°unique role in higher education continues to be recognised¡±.

Jean Arnold, director of quality at 바카라사이트 Office for Students, said that outcomes measures were ¡°one part of 바카라사이트 evidence we use to regulate higher education providers¡± and that judgements about whe바카라사이트r a provider was compliant were made only ¡°after considering 바카라사이트 context in which it is operating¡±.

tom.williams@ws-2000.com