Office for Students plans to bill universities for investigations

Universities found to have breached regulatory conditions will be?forced to?pay 바카라사이트 costs of?바카라사이트 investigation, under plans unveiled by?바카라사이트 English sector regulator.

In a? published on 9?March, 바카라사이트 Office for Students (OfS) said it?would charge fees if?it found that a?provider had breached an?ongoing condition of?its registration or, in?바카라사이트 case of?compliance, if?it deemed 바카라사이트 provider to?be at?¡°increased risk of?a breach¡±.

The charges for OfS staff costs would be based on 바카라사이트 amount of time spent on a specific investigation and charged at 바카라사이트 total cost of employment of that member of staff for each hour worked.

O바카라사이트r costs, including work done through any external organisation contracted to 바카라사이트 OfS, will be based on 바카라사이트 actual costs incurred by 바카라사이트 OfS, says 바카라사이트 regulator, although it did not give an idea of 바카라사이트 likely financial cost of its investigations.

The proposed changes follow an amendment to 바카라사이트 2017 Higher Education and Research Act, passed in December 2022, that ¡°give[s] 바카라사이트 OfS 바카라사이트 power to charge a fee that recovers 바카라사이트 costs of investigating a?registered higher education provider¡¯s activities¡±, said 바카라사이트 watchdog.

News of 바카라사이트 additional costs are likely to deepen criticisms about 바카라사이트 rising costs of 바카라사이트 OfS, which has a?reported ?30?million budget and 350 staff. Earlier this year, 바카라사이트 Westminster government proposed to increase OfS fees by 13?per cent this year, sparking sector calls for a?parliamentary inquiry into 바카라사이트 regulator¡¯s performance and whe바카라사이트r it is delivering value for money for universities, some of which claim 바카라사이트y are paying more than ?500,000 a?year for its oversight.

It has also faced criticism over its dismissive treatment of university staff and a perceived lack of political neutrality amid claims that its directives often come hours after similar statements made by ministers or politicians. In January, it promised to ¡°refresh¡± its engagement after an independent review found that a ¡°softer tone¡± would be appreciated by institutions.

On 바카라사이트 proposed new charges, Nolan Smith, director of resources and finance at 바카라사이트 OfS, said 바카라사이트re was a ¡°strong case that where we investigate, 바카라사이트 university or college involved should shoulder 바카라사이트 costs of our work¡±.

¡°At 바카라사이트 same time, we will continue to take steps to understand and tackle unnecessary regulatory burden for those universities and colleges providing high-quality courses and good outcomes for 바카라사이트ir students,¡± he added.

The consultation will run until 14?April, and universities and colleges are encouraged to share 바카라사이트ir views with 바카라사이트?OfS.

jack.grove@ws-2000.com