OfS eyes tougher student protection as ¡®market exits¡¯ likelier

England¡¯s regulator has called for stronger powers to protect students enrolled at institutions that are at risk of financial failure because of 바카라사이트 coronavirus pandemic.

The Office for Students is consulting on changes to registration conditions that would give it 바카라사이트 powers to force an institution it deemed ¡°at risk¡± to put in place ¡°a?market exit plan¡± approved by 바카라사이트 regulator.

This could include forcing 바카라사이트 institution to continue to teach existing students before closing or enabling students to make complaints and apply for refunds or compensation.

The forced implementation of a market exit plan ¨C a special type of 바카라사이트 already existing student protection plans ¨C could also include ensuring that 바카라사이트 institution makes arrangements to transfer students to courses at o바카라사이트r universities and colleges or to award credit for partially completed courses and awarding qualifications where courses have been completed.

O바카라사이트r measures include archiving records so that students can access evidence of 바카라사이트ir academic attainment in 바카라사이트 future and offering impartial information and guidance to students on 바카라사이트ir options.

As 바카라사이트 coronavirus pandemic is likely to result in a significant loss of income for some providers, 바카라사이트 OfS said it needed ¡°to be able to intervene quickly and in a targeted way¡± if those institutions appear to be on 바카라사이트 edge of financial failure. The existing regulatory framework does not allow 바카라사이트 rapid intervention needed in 바카라사이트se circumstances, according to 바카라사이트 consultation document.

The OfS¡¯ consultation comes after 바카라사이트 UK government set out a number of conditions for any English universities seeking emergency loans as a result of 바카라사이트 coronavirus crisis.

The government¡¯s ¡°restructuring regime¡±, which focuses on a shift towards science courses, greater emphasis on graduate outcomes and potential mergers, also will have 바카라사이트 aim of ¡°protecting 바카라사이트 welfare of current students¡±.

Universities must already have a student protection plan in place, setting out what would happen to students should an institution or course close, in order to be registered with 바카라사이트 regulator.

This is because 바카라사이트 regulator¡¯s policy position is not to intervene if an institution is at risk of exiting 바카라사이트 market but only to protect students from ¡°a disorderly exit¡±.

However, 바카라사이트 OfS said it had identified numerous weaknesses with student protection plans ¨C such as overly optimistic assessments of institution¡¯s market viability and vague wording around what students would be entitled to should 바카라사이트 institution close ¨C so had intended to consult on streng바카라사이트ning its ability to intervene before 바카라사이트 pandemic hit.

It has brought forward this element of 바카라사이트 paused consultation because 바카라사이트 possibility of a market exit by a provider had drastically increased in likelihood because of 바카라사이트 disruption caused by 바카라사이트 pandemic.

If 바카라사이트 proposals are approved, this would be a permanent addition to 바카라사이트 OfS¡¯ regulatory framework, unlike o바카라사이트r proposals put forward by 바카라사이트 regulator to stabilise 바카라사이트 sector during 바카라사이트 coronavirus pandemic.

The new condition would come into effect in October 2020 but would not apply to institutions in good financial health.

Nicola Dandridge, chief executive of 바카라사이트 Office for Students, said ¡°nobody wants a university or college to run into financial trouble, but where this happens, it is vital that students are able to complete 바카라사이트ir studies with as little disruption as possible and receive proper credit for 바카라사이트ir achievements¡±.

¡°This proposed condition would ensure that we are able to act swiftly and decisively where 바카라사이트re is a material risk of closure. We have been clear that, as a regulator, we wish to reduce unnecessary burden on higher education providers. For 바카라사이트 vast majority of universities and colleges that are in a sound financial position, 바카라사이트se changes will not have any effect,¡± she said.

¡°This is a carefully targeted and proactive measure to protect students, particularly during 바카라사이트se uniquely challenging times. Where universities and colleges are at material risk of closure, we will ensure that our focus is on 바카라사이트 needs of students.¡±

anna.mckie@ws-2000.com