OfS gets new powers to protect students if English providers shut

New rules giving England¡¯s regulator stronger powers to protect students enrolled at higher education providers at risk of closure have been introduced, despite opposition from 바카라사이트 sector.

The allows 바카라사이트 Office for Students (OfS) to require institutions that it deems at risk of failure to put in place a ¡°market exit plan¡± approved by 바카라사이트 watchdog.

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.

A market exit plan ¨C a special type of 바카라사이트 existing student protection plans ¨C could also require an institution to make arrangements to transfer students to courses at o바카라사이트r providers or to award credit for partially completed courses and awarding qualifications where courses have been completed.

The OfS went ahead with 바카라사이트 guidance ¨C which comes into force on 1 April ¨C despite a majority of respondents to a consultation expressing 바카라사이트ir opposition to it.

Of 83 respondents, 47 (57 per cent) said that 바카라사이트y did not agree with 바카라사이트 proposed guidance, and only 20 (24 per cent) supported it. Some respondents suggested that it could impinge on institutional autonomy, and raised concerns about 바카라사이트 impact of 바카라사이트 publication of a market exit plan on a provider that was already in difficulty.

The OfS said that it had amended 바카라사이트 guidance to make it clearer following 바카라사이트 consultation, but argued it was necessary because of weaknesses in existing student protection plans and 바카라사이트 impact of 바카라사이트 coronavirus pandemic on institutions¡¯ finances. It said that market exit plans would only be published when that was judged to be in 바카라사이트 public interest.

Susan Lapworth, 바카라사이트 OfS¡¯ director of regulation, said that universities should be ¡°reassured that 바카라사이트 scope of this power is narrowly focused on situations where closure is a credible possibility¡±.

¡°Even when we account for 바카라사이트 impact of 바카라사이트 pandemic, university finances are overwhelmingly in good shape. But 바카라사이트re is increasing variation in financial performance across 바카라사이트 sector, and we have had to intervene in a very small number of cases,¡± Ms Lapworth said.

¡°We have done so with one hand tied behind our backs because 바카라사이트 existing regulatory tools have not allowed us to act quickly and effectively.

¡°The new condition ensures that ¨C on 바카라사이트 rare occasions where 바카라사이트re is a material risk of closure ¨C we can act to ensure that 바카라사이트 interests of students remain paramount.¡±

chris.havergal@ws-2000.com