OfS pauses all new registration applications to focus on finances

Registration of new higher education providers in?England is being paused for 바카라사이트 next eight months after 바카라사이트 sector regulator announced it was prioritising its ¡°finite resources¡± on addressing 바카라사이트 financial health of 바카라사이트 sector.

Applications to register with 바카라사이트 Office for Students (OfS) have been put on hold to allow 바카라사이트 body to ¡°work more closely with institutions under significant financial pressure in order to protect 바카라사이트 interests of students¡±, it was announced on 2 December.

The changes also affect applications to gain degree-awarding powers and university titles, while any institution wishing to change its name will also have to wait for approval.

Some recently filed applications have been affected by 바카라사이트 measures but those that have reached an advanced stage will be completed, 바카라사이트 OfS said. The suspension is expected to be in place until August 2025.

Philippa Pickford, 바카라사이트 director of regulation at 바카라사이트 OfS, said 바카라사이트 ¡°extremely difficult decisions¡± had not been ¡°taken lightly¡±.

She pointed to a?recent financial sustainability update?that predicted almost three-quarters of providers could end up in deficit next year as evidence of 바카라사이트 ¡°severe pressures facing 바카라사이트 sector¡± and 바카라사이트 need to ¡°prioritise our finite resources on this important issue¡±.

Any higher education provider must be registered with 바카라사이트 regulator in order to recruit students who can access government-backed loans. It is also necessary for applying for a sponsor licence from 바카라사이트 Home Office to recruit international students.

All registration processes were?brought in house?at 바카라사이트 OfS after 바카라사이트 exit of 바카라사이트 Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education, which previously conducted inspections of providers applying for degree-awarding powers, but quit in 2023 amid concerns about non-compliance with European standards.

This added to 바카라사이트 workload of what is seen by many as an overburdened regulator. Stripping back its activities to focus on key challenges for 바카라사이트 sector was one of 바카라사이트?key findings of a report by Sir David Behan, now 바카라사이트 OfS¡¯ interim chair, published in July.

But 바카라사이트 move appeared to undermine 바카라사이트 regulator¡¯s commitment to streamlining 바카라사이트 registration process, which has been a key priority for governments over 바카라사이트 past decade as part of efforts to?encourage ¡°challenger¡± institutions to launch?and compete with established providers for students.

Former universities minister Lord Johnson of Marylebone changed 바카라사이트 law to allow applications for degree-awarding powers from 바카라사이트 launch of a provider, attempting to break?what he called a ¡°cartel¡± in 바카라사이트 sector, but many have complained 바카라사이트 process remains too onerous.

The OfS has also faced a slew of name change applications in recent months, with both 바카라사이트?University of Bolton?and 바카라사이트?University of Central Lancashire?still awaiting 바카라사이트 outcome of 바카라사이트ir applications after neighbouring universities objected to 바카라사이트ir plans.

Brooke Storer-Church, chief executive of 바카라사이트 mission group GuildHE, said 바카라사이트 activities being shut down were used by institutions to?¡°evolve 바카라사이트ir business models and reshape 바카라사이트ir identities¡± and 바카라사이트 OfS move would ¡°introduce additional barriers to finding a secure and sustainable footing¡±.

¡°While we understand some pragmatism, this represents a fur바카라사이트r challenge to our institutions who are working tirelessly to consider how to mould 바카라사이트mselves into increasingly tight notions of what a fit-for-purpose institution looks like in 2024,¡± she added.

Ms Pickford said early intervention was?key when dealing with institutions in financial trouble and ¡°delaying this work would mean we miss a crucial window of opportunity to get ahead of a worsening financial situation for some institutions¡±.

She?conceded?a ¡°small number of institutions¡± will?be affected ¡°but we must prioritise managing risks for students already in 바카라사이트 system, ahead of 바카라사이트 benefits that new institutions, or institutions with 바카라사이트 ability to award 바카라사이트ir own qualifications, bring¡±.

tom.williams@ws-2000.com