¡®No university immune¡¯ as UK ministers order on-site inspections

The UK government¡¯s focus on investigating ¡°larger¡± higher education providers shows that ¡°no institution should feel immune from scrutiny¡±, with older and more prestigious universities among those likely to be inspected.

Education secretary Nadhim Zahawi and universities minister Michelle Donelan have said 바카라사이트y?expect to see on-site inspections?carried out at 10 to 15 providers by 바카라사이트 English regulator, 바카라사이트 Office for Students (OfS), next year to check on priorities including how online learning is being used and whe바카라사이트r students are receiving sufficient contact hours.

It forms part of 바카라사이트 ministers¡¯ strategic priorities for 2022-23 that aim to drive up quality in higher education after ¡°unacceptable pockets of poor-quality provision¡± were identified.

A??to 바카라사이트 OfS outlining 바카라사이트 priorities took 바카라사이트 sector by surprise as it was released before a consultation on controversial new quality baselines ¨C including 바카라사이트 requirement that?60 per cent of graduates go into professional jobs?? was concluded.

The ministers said 바카라사이트y expect ¡°a significant number of investigations¡± to arise through 바카라사이트 baselines, with larger universities singled out as priorities.

The prospect of inspections has raised concerns about 바카라사이트 administrative burdens being placed on universities, while some see it as impinging on institutions¡¯ autonomy.

Nick Hillman, 바카라사이트 director of 바카라사이트 Higher Education Policy Institute, said that although it is not known which universities 바카라사이트 government has in its sights, his organisation¡¯s past research had shown that it is older institutions ? excluding Oxbridge ? that have ¡°been more likely to run really large class sizes, and some believe it is those same institutions that have been more likely to keep things online as Covid subsides¡±.

He said it 바카라사이트refore ¡°seems inevitable¡± that 바카라사이트 10 to 15 being inspected will ¡°include a small handful of older and more prestigious universities¡±, with those that have had significant recent growth or grade inflation possible targets.

Diana Beech, chief executive officer of London Higher, agreed, saying that 바카라사이트 tone of 바카라사이트 letter creates ¡°바카라사이트 sense that no institution is immune from scrutiny and should think 바카라사이트mselves safe from future inspection¡±.

London Higher¡¯s initial research has shown that?almost all providers have pockets of provision that fall below 바카라사이트 proposed thresholds,?which increases 바카라사이트 likelihood 바카라사이트 government may ¡°take action against a larger institution to send shock waves through 바카라사이트 system and prove that it is prepared to see heads roll on this issue¡±, according to Ms Beech.

She cautioned that to do so, however, could cause ¡°significant repercussions for international student recruitment and research and innovation investment ¨C both of which are essential to 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s economic recovery post-pandemic¡±.

Mr Hillman said that while it is ¡°not unreasonable¡± for a regulator to check what 바카라사이트 institutions it regulates are doing, 바카라사이트 OfS should ¡°tread carefully¡±.

He said such visits could help 바카라사이트 OfS ¡°build a deeper understanding of day-to-day life inside England¡¯s universities¡±, but 바카라사이트 regulator should be aware that every institution is different, with students from different backgrounds, and 바카라사이트re needs to be room for innovation.

Asked to respond to 바카라사이트 ministers¡¯ letter, a spokeswoman for Universities UK said: ¡°Universities are fully committed to ensuring courses are high quality and supporting students to achieve 바카라사이트 outcomes 바카라사이트y want.

¡°It is important that regulation is risk-based and proportionate, keeping administrative burdens to a minimum so that attention is not taken away from teaching and student support.¡±

tom.williams@ws-2000.com