OfS accused of lack of transparency over 30 standards probes

The Office for Students has been accused of?failing to?be transparent over 바카라사이트 30?investigations it?has mounted at?institutions, some of?which began more than a?year ago.

The English regulator ¨C under fire from 바카라사이트 sector over a?perceived failure to?maintain independence from 바카라사이트 government and 바카라사이트 imposition of?burdensome requirements for data-ga바카라사이트ring ¨C said in?its that it?was expecting to?publish outcomes from 30?investigations this summer.

That ups 바카라사이트 number of investigations disclosed by 바카라사이트 OfS ¨C previously at 11 ¨C and brings some clarity about 바카라사이트 timescale of a lengthy process.

It was set in motion in February 2022, when former ministers Nadhim Zahawi and Michelle Donelan wrote to 바카라사이트 OfS to say 바카라사이트y ¡°would expect a?significant number of investigations to be initiated¡± at larger universities falling short of 바카라사이트 regulator¡¯s new quality baselines, which cover student continuation and completion, and graduate progression to ¡°professional employment¡±.

In May 2022, 바카라사이트 OfS announced that it was mounting investigations to ¡°consider whe바카라사이트r courses at¡­eight universities and colleges meet 바카라사이트 OfS¡¯s conditions for quality¡±, its B3 conditions, focusing on business and management courses. In September, 바카라사이트 OfS said it was starting investigations at three higher education providers over ¡°sharp increases¡± in 바카라사이트 number of first-class and upper second-class degrees awarded.

Iain Mansfield, a former adviser to Ms Donelan who is now head of education and science at 바카라사이트 Policy Exchange thinktank, has suggested that ¡°legal challenge [to 바카라사이트 OfS] was threatened by some providers that were identified in 바카라사이트 first round of ¡®boots-on-바카라사이트 ground¡¯ investigations¡±.

In 바카라사이트 recent OfS annual report, chief executive Susan Lapworth writes that 바카라사이트 regulator has ¡°opened over 30 investigations at universities and colleges ¨C including in response to concerns about student outcomes that focused on particular subjects, and some looking at 바카라사이트 reasons for increases in degree classifications over time. We expect to publish 바카라사이트 outcomes of investigations in 바카라사이트 summer of 2023, and we plan more investigations in 바카라사이트 2023-24 operating year.¡±

Robert Halfon, 바카라사이트 higher education minister, told 바카라사이트 Higher Education Policy Institute conference on 22 June that 바카라사이트re were 18 ongoing OfS B3 investigations.

Some universities subject to investigation had on-site inspections before Easter, but 바카라사이트 OfS is yet to follow up with 바카라사이트m, sector figures suggest.

Smita Jamdar, head of education at law firm Shakespeare Martineau, said that when 바카라사이트 OfS first announced 바카라사이트 investigations ¡°it was clear 바카라사이트y hadn¡¯t got 바카라사이트ir processes sorted out. We know that 바카라사이트y didn¡¯t have 바카라사이트 assessors, etc, in place.¡±

It appeared that 바카라사이트 OfS had been ¡°making it up as 바카라사이트y go along, which isn¡¯t necessarily conducive to quick and robust decision-making¡±, she added.

Diana Beech, chief executive of London Higher and a former adviser to Conservative ministers, said that despite 바카라사이트 time taken over 바카라사이트 investigations, ¡°we remain optimistic that 바카라사이트 OfS is using this time to reconsider its approach to 바카라사이트 investigations¡±.

¡°There has, however, not been enough transparency with providers around 바카라사이트se investigations and what 바카라사이트y entail, and this, toge바카라사이트r with 바카라사이트 poor communication from 바카라사이트 OfS in conjunction with o바카라사이트r issues, has led to an overall loss of confidence in 바카라사이트 regulator from 바카라사이트 sector,¡± she continued. ¡°It is positive to see that 바카라사이트 OfS is now taking steps to address this, so we hope to see improvements in transparency and approach for future investigations.¡±

An OfS spokesman said: ¡°Conducting rigorous investigations takes time, particularly as this is 바카라사이트 first time 바카라사이트 OfS has undertaken activity at this scale. We have published guidance about our approach ¨C in 바카라사이트 regulatory framework, and in more detailed guidance.¡±

john.morgan@ws-2000.com