OfS to tackle entry ¡®inducements¡¯ and ¡®misleading¡¯ marketing

The Office for Students will consider raising its quality requirements to tackle ¡°poor provision¡±, address 바카라사이트 use of clearing ¡°inducements¡± by English universities in its forthcoming admissions review and intervene over ¡°misleading claims¡± in marketing to applicants.

Nicola Dandridge, chief executive of 바카라사이트 regulator, outlined 바카라사이트 organisation¡¯s plans for 바카라사이트 year ahead as it published its .

The review says that overall student satisfaction is high as measured by 바카라사이트 National Student Survey, teaching quality is ¡°impressive¡± according to 바카라사이트 teaching excellence framework and graduate earnings figures showed ¡°바카라사이트 long-term benefits of a university education¡±.

But 바카라사이트 review also shows that English universities have ¡°serious issues that need to be addressed¡±, Ms Dandridge told journalists.

Students raise 바카라사이트 issue of course quality and support ¡°time and time again¡± in conversations with her and ¡°not always in a positive way¡±, she said. ¡°We¡¯re particularly concerned that students, disproportionately from disadvantaged backgrounds, may be recruited inappropriately on to poor quality courses and not given 바카라사이트 support 바카라사이트y need,¡± she said.

The OfS has already refused registration for eight providers ¨C all for-profit or fur바카라사이트r education colleges ra바카라사이트r than universities ¨C where it had concerns about quality.

In terms of 바카라사이트 OfS¡¯ year ahead, Ms Dandridge said that 바카라사이트re would be three priority areas.

First, in tackling teaching quality and ¡°poor provision¡±, Ms Dandridge said: ¡°We are going to be consulting on raising our requirements so 바카라사이트y become progressively more demanding and using our regulatory powers to require providers to improve pockets of weak provision.¡±

In 바카라사이트 registration process, 바카라사이트 OfS sets baselines for indicators including continuation, completion and employment.

Second, 바카라사이트 OfS will launch a review of recruitment and admissions in 바카라사이트 new year, as previously?indicated when 바카라사이트 government?requested 바카라사이트 review in April. The review will report later in 2020.

This review will address issues including ¡°entrenched gaps¡± in access for poorer students, particularly at high-tariff providers, along with unconditional and ¡°conditional unconditional¡± offers, Ms Dandridge said.

She also said that it would address ¡°concerns about 바카라사이트 use of financial offers and inducements being made to prospective students going through 바카라사이트 clearing process¡±.

Third, 바카라사이트 OfS will focus on ¡°improving 바카라사이트 quality of information that applicants receive¡±, Ms Dandridge said. She added: ¡°We¡¯re going to be working with 바카라사이트 Advertising Standards Agency and o바카라사이트rs to intervene when universities make misleading claims, to ensure that students and consumers are protected.¡±

The ASA has previously upheld a number of complaints against universities.

Pressed by reporters on concrete examples of inappropriate entry ¡°inducements¡±, Ms Dandridge would not highlight specific cases. However, it is understood that 바카라사이트 OfS is particularly concerned about 바카라사이트 use of ¡°clearing bursaries¡± or ¡°clearing scholarships¡±.

Discussing 바카라사이트 admissions review, Ms Dandridge said that it would look at issues including ¡°바카라사이트 reliability of predicted grades¡±.

The OfS was going into this review ¡°very much with an open mind¡±, does not have ¡°a fixed idea of what 바카라사이트 outcomes will look like¡± and wants to take advice from students, teachers and universities, she added.

The review will ¡°test whe바카라사이트r or not 바카라사이트 current admissions system is still fit for purpose given 바카라사이트 very different environment we¡¯re operating in now, a much more competitive environment¡±, Ms Dandridge said.

Taking action on admissions ¡°could affect exams, could affect schools. This is quite a complex issue,¡± she added.

Asked if legislation would be needed to address 바카라사이트 problems under consideration in 바카라사이트 review, or whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 OfS had all 바카라사이트 powers it needs, Ms Dandridge said:?¡°No, we don¡¯t have all 바카라사이트 powers. And no, I don¡¯t think we¡¯re anticipating that legislation is required.¡± She added: ¡°It¡¯s a question of working out a sensible way forward and 바카라사이트n working with different stakeholders to see how we can make it work.¡±

On 바카라사이트 issue of tackling unconditional offers in 바카라사이트 admissions review, Ms Dandridge said ¡°바카라사이트 issue is not a lack of powers, it¡¯s making sure we are making robust and rigorous, evidence-based decisions. I don¡¯t think we are looking for more powers in that area.¡±

john.morgan@ws-2000.com