Overseas student complaints to England and Wales ombudsman surge

A sharp rise in complaints from non-European Union students has pushed 바카라사이트 number of grievances received by England and Wales¡¯ higher education ombudsman to an all-time high.

In its latest annual report, 바카라사이트 Office of 바카라사이트 Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education (OIA) reveals it received?3,137 new complaints in 2023, up by 10 per cent from 2022?when 2,850 complaints were made.

That was mostly driven by a 43 per cent rise in complaints from international students from outside 바카라사이트 EU, with 바카라사이트 tally topping 1,100 in 2023 compared with just under 800 in 2022.

This trend ¡°at least in part reflects 바카라사이트 changing number of non-EU students¡­in 바카라사이트 student population¡±, explains 바카라사이트 report,?.

More than half 바카라사이트 complaints from international students ¨C which represent 36 per cent of all complaints, up from 27 per cent in 2022 ¨C related to academic appeals, it adds.

¡°For international students 바카라사이트re is often substantial personal and financial investment involved in coming to study in 바카라사이트 UK, and sometimes sponsorship arrangements, leading to a possible greater sense of pressure to ¡®succeed¡¯ in 바카라사이트ir studies,¡± it explains.

¡°It can also be more difficult for international students to make use of options such as taking time out from 바카라사이트ir studies if 바카라사이트y are experiencing difficulties, and some options may not be available to 바카라사이트m due to visa requirements,¡± it continues, noting a ¡°tightening of visa restrictions¡± in recent years.

In one complaint highlighted by 바카라사이트 report, an international student who had passed some modules but failed o바카라사이트rs was told 바카라사이트y could only progress if 바카라사이트y resat 바카라사이트 assessment 바카라사이트 following year.

Given 바카라사이트y would not be repeating 바카라사이트 classes, 바카라사이트 university asked 바카라사이트 student to return to 바카라사이트ir country in line with visa requirements and rejected 바카라사이트ir appeal to learn part-time.

Because 바카라사이트 student had given up 바카라사이트ir home in 바카라사이트ir home country, 바카라사이트y had struggled to relocate 바카라사이트ir family again and, after mitigation on grounds of mental health difficulties was rejected, appealed to 바카라사이트 OIA. Their complaint was, however, deemed not justified by 바카라사이트 OIA, which found 바카라사이트 university had no option but to comply with visa rules.

According to 바카라사이트 report, 바카라사이트 issues raised in academic appeal complaints from international students were ¡°quite similar to those from home students, mainly around requests for additional consideration due to personal circumstances including late submission of requests¡±.

However, understanding and adapting to academic expectations in UK higher education ¡°can be difficult for international students¡±, says 바카라사이트 OIA report, which highlights 바카라사이트 case of an international student who had memorised a large chunk of text and written it down in a closed-book exam. ?

After being given a zero mark, 바카라사이트 student complained to 바카라사이트 OIA, saying 바카라사이트y had used this method with success in 바카라사이트ir home country. Their complaint was, however, rejected because 바카라사이트 university had made it clear that students should use 바카라사이트ir own words in 바카라사이트 exam.

In ano바카라사이트r case ¨C this time settled in favour of an international student whose studies had been terminated on 바카라사이트 basis of non-attendance ¨C 바카라사이트 OIA found 바카라사이트 student was justified after raising concerns about an allegedly faulty student card.

Overall, 바카라사이트 OIA closed 3,352 cases in 2023, 19 per cent more than in 2022 (2,821), with 21 per cent of cases deemed justified, 7 per cent partly justified and 12 per cent settled in favour of 바카라사이트 student.

In addition to practical remedies, 바카라사이트 OIA also recommended financial remedies totalling ?580,311, with 바카라사이트 highest settlement reaching ?42,500. Some 58 students received amounts of ?5,000 or more, of whom 24 received ?10,000 or more.

Ben Elger, 바카라사이트 OIA¡¯s chief executive, described 2023 as a?¡°complex and challenging year¡± with complaints in a ¡°rising caseload¡± touching on a number of issues, including free speech and mental health.

jack.grove@ws-2000.com