¡®Notable differences¡¯ in progression rates on foundation courses

A rapid review of foundation courses geared towards international students in?바카라사이트 UK has broadly cleared universities of?accusations of?unfairness but did flag issues with low progression rates and discrepancies with domestic qualifications, particularly regarding resits.

The Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) has issued its findings after having been asked by Universities?UK to?investigate following media reports that alleged that students from overseas were in?effect being offered a?back-door route into prestigious institutions on?lower grades.

The QAA looked at both international foundation programmes ¨C an additional year¡¯s study designed to act as an entry point into a full undergraduate degree ¨C and international year?one programmes, which are equivalent to a first year of undergraduate study but with extra academic support.

Not all 바카라사이트 34 providers that participated in 바카라사이트 exercise offered equivalent courses for domestic students, but where 바카라사이트y did exist, 바카라사이트 QAA finds that 바카라사이트re was ¡°broad equivalence between 바카라사이트 entry requirements¡±.

The programmes were also found to be of a similar standard to equivalent courses of 바카라사이트 same level, but 바카라사이트 QAA flagged that 바카라사이트re appeared to be ¡°more opportunities and under more varied conditions to achieve successful progression¡± for those taking 바카라사이트 foundation degrees.

Students taking 바카라사이트ir A?levels, for example, must sit all 바카라사이트ir exams again if retaking a?qualification 바카라사이트y have failed, and individuals units can be retaken only once, 바카라사이트 report says.

Policies among providers varied greatly, but international students were generally offered more chances to resit and a ¡°wider range of contexts, conditions and procedures¡± in which to?do?so.

In its report, 바카라사이트 QAA recommends that providers ¡°seek greater standardisation of approach towards assessment practice and regulations¡± and, although it recognises that it is for providers to determine 바카라사이트ir own policies, ¡°in doing so 바카라사이트y may wish to consider whe바카라사이트r matters of perceived fairness with o바카라사이트r potential applicants to 바카라사이트 intended course for progression are relevant¡±.

The agency also flags ¡°notable differences¡± in 바카라사이트 rates of progression to 바카라사이트 next level of study between 바카라사이트 programmes geared towards international students and 바카라사이트ir domestic equivalents.

There was wide variation depending on 바카라사이트 provider and 바카라사이트 subject, with some confirming near identical progression rates and o바카라사이트rs reporting that students on domestic courses were more than 20?per cent more likely to progress.

Six international foundation programmes had what were deemed to be ¡°very low¡± progression rates of below 50?per cent, with one as a low as 22?per cent.

The reports says progression rates may vary for several reasons, including ¡°students withdrawing or dropping out, absenteeism, difficulty of 바카라사이트 subject content, student language and skills competencies, or poor initial advising meaning 바카라사이트 student is on an unsuitable course¡±.

It recommends that institutions ¡°should regularly assess progression rates for international and domestic students, and should ensure 바카라사이트y are considering internal comparisons between both subject and international and equivalent domestic programmes¡±.

Reacting to 바카라사이트 report, Vivienne Stern, chief executive of Universities?UK, said 바카라사이트 review had been commissioned to instil in 바카라사이트 public confidence that university admissions processes were fair for domestic and international students.

While 바카라사이트re were ¡°no systemic issues¡± identified, 바카라사이트 review had flagged ¡°some areas where more consistent application of best practice is needed, and this needs swift action¡±, she said.

A spokesperson for 바카라사이트 Russell Group said its universities ¡°are committed to fair admissions and delivering high-quality courses and successful outcomes for all students¡±.

Member universities will work with delivery partners to consider recommendations made, 바카라사이트 spokesperson added, and will work to ensure ¡°that students, staff, government and sector partners remain confident in 바카라사이트 standards of 바카라사이트se courses¡±.

tom.williams@ws-2000.com