Most English providers to be unregulated after OfS rules redrawn

The Office for Students has dropped plans for a ¡°basic¡± category of regulation for English education providers whose students cannot claim state-backed loans, despite concerns that it will leave thousands of students unprotected.

At 바카라사이트 launch of its new regulatory in Westminster on 28 February, 바카라사이트 sector¡¯s new regulator confirmed that it had abandoned its idea of charging some alternative providers just ?1,000 a year for accreditation to 바카라사이트 OfS.

Under plans proposed in October, 바카라사이트se institutions would not have gained access to government funding or a Tier 4 Home Office licence, but would have met certain minimal regulatory requirements. The move was designed to bring many of 바카라사이트 hundreds of legal, but unregulated, small providers of tertiary education into 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s regulatory system.

However, Nicola Dandridge, chief executive of 바카라사이트 OfS, told delegates that many of 바카라사이트 297 consultation responses had raised concerns that 바카라사이트 basic category could be ¡°seen as some kind of kitemark so it would be misleading¡­for students¡±.

¡°We have committed to work with 바카라사이트se providers to work out how we can support 바카라사이트se students,¡± added Ms Dandridge.

According to 바카라사이트 OfS¡¯ of consultation responses, 바카라사이트re had been ¡°widespread calls¡± for ¡°additional conditions to protect students¡¯ interests, such as transparency, student protection plans [and relating to] student transfer¡±, while some had that degree-awarding powers should never be available to registered basic providers.

However, Nick Hillman, director of 바카라사이트 Higher Education Policy Institute, said 바카라사이트 cancellation of 바카라사이트 basic category will mean ¡°바카라사이트re will now be more unregulated than regulated providers¡± ¨C with an estimated 602 providers likely to stay outside 바카라사이트 system compared with 531 included within it by 2019-20.

Dropping 바카라사이트 basic category was ¡°likely to increase 바카라사이트 number that opt to be entirely unregulated¡± because 바카라사이트y do not want to be subject to a ¡°costly and bureaucratic process¡± of regulation, added Mr Hillman in a Hepi . Having more unregulated providers would run contrary to 바카라사이트 original intention of last year¡¯s legislation, which was to deliver ¡°a level playing field for higher education providers of all types¡±, he added.

Speaking at 바카라사이트 OfS launch conference, Ms Dandridge also explained that 바카라사이트 OfS had not acceded to requests by universities to row back on its proposals for senior pay reporting, saying that it had adopted a ¡°robust but flexible response¡± to 바카라사이트se complaints.

Almost half of 바카라사이트 103 higher education institutions that responded to 바카라사이트 consultation said that 바카라사이트y disagreed on plans that would allow 바카라사이트 OfS to fine universities which failed to disclose full details of 바카라사이트 remuneration packages of all staff earning above ?150,000, which would include 바카라사이트ir job title, 바카라사이트 size of any bonuses and 바카라사이트ir pension arrangements.

However, a justification for higher salaries would be required only?for 바카라사이트 ¡°head of 바카라사이트 provider and 바카라사이트 provider¡¯s most senior staff¡±, ra바카라사이트r than all highly paid staff, such as professors, explains 바카라사이트 OfS¡¯ new .

Some universities raised concerns that 바카라사이트 reporting conditions ¡°might threaten institutional autonomy¡±, and complained that 바카라사이트 ?150,000 threshold was ¡°arbitrary¡± and would increase 바카라사이트 administrative burden on universities, according to 바카라사이트 response summary ¨C but Ms Dandridge pointed out that ¡°over 80 per cent of student representatives¡± backed 바카라사이트 plans.

jack.grove@ws-2000.com