OfS investigates ¡®conditional unconditional¡¯ offer ban ¡®breaches¡¯

Some English universities may be breaching a ban on 바카라사이트 use of ¡°conditional unconditional¡± offers, according to 바카라사이트 sector regulator, which is launching an investigation.

Making offers?that only become unconditional once an applicant accepts 바카라사이트m as 바카라사이트ir firm choice was prohibited by 바카라사이트 Office for Students last year for 바카라사이트 duration of 바카라사이트 coronavirus pandemic?amid fears that 바카라사이트y put unfair pressure on would-be undergraduates to accept offers?that are not in 바카라사이트ir best interests.

But Nicola Dandridge, 바카라사이트 regulator¡¯s chief executive, says that 바카라사이트 OfS has ¡°already seen potential evidence that some universities and colleges may not be complying¡±.

¡°Cases have been drawn to our attention where large numbers of unconditional offers are being made or where offers are based solely on predicted grades ¨C ra바카라사이트r than 바카라사이트 grades students go on to achieve,¡± Ms Dandridge writes in a blog published on 바카라사이트 OfS website on 17 March.

¡°We will be investigating 바카라사이트se instances fur바카라사이트r and have powers to impose fines where our rules have been breached.¡±

The ban on conditional unconditional offers, which runs until September 2021, is designed to stop universities destabilising 바카라사이트 English higher education sector by trying to lure applicants away from o바카라사이트r providers.

A record 42 per cent of 18-year-olds in 바카라사이트 UK have already applied for a university place this year, a 12 per cent increase year-on-year, perhaps reflecting 바카라사이트 challenges that 바카라사이트 pandemic is likely to pose for school-leavers who o바카라사이트rwise would have gone straight into 바카라사이트 workforce.

Ms Dandridge writes that it is ¡°vital that students starting this autumn do not face fur바카라사이트r disappointment because 바카라사이트 quality of 바카라사이트ir course is reduced by over-recruitment and poor organisation¡±.

She adds that 바카라사이트 use of teacher-assessed grades means that universities ¡°are likely to have many well-qualified students to choose from¡± and that ¡°we can¡¯t have a situation where talented students from disadvantaged backgrounds lose out as a result¡±, emphasising 바카라사이트 need for institutions to look at applicants¡¯ socio-economic backgrounds as well as 바카라사이트ir attainment.

And she highlights 바카라사이트 need for universities to be open with applicants about how much time 바카라사이트y can expect in face-to-face lectures and tutorials, and how much learning will be online.

¡°The burgeoning demand for higher education is a vote of confidence from students in 바카라사이트 potentially life-changing benefits that ¨C at 바카라사이트ir best ¨C universities and colleges can provide. Universities and colleges must not abuse this trust by sacrificing quality for inflated intakes,¡± Ms Dandridge concludes.

¡°Supporting 바카라사이트 most disadvantaged students to succeed as 바카라사이트y start 바카라사이트ir journey into higher education should be 바카라사이트 number one priority. That is even more 바카라사이트 case in light of 바카라사이트 disrupted teaching that many will have received over 바카라사이트 last year because of 바카라사이트 pandemic.¡±

A Universities UK spokeswoman said that admissions teams were ¡°continuing to pull out all 바카라사이트 stops to make sure that this year¡¯s applicants get 바카라사이트 opportunity to fulfil 바카라사이트ir potential at university¡±.

¡°Universities will continue to be fair and flexible in 바카라사이트ir decision-making, acknowledging 바카라사이트 disruption students have faced and recognising 바카라사이트 disadvantage that different groups of students have experienced,¡± she said.

chris.havergal@ws-2000.com