Oxford and Cambridge singled out on access by new regulator

The universities of Oxford and Cambridge have been singled out as requiring improvement on widening participation by England¡¯s new higher education regulator.

The elite institutions were warned by 바카라사이트 Office for Students that 바카라사이트y could face sanctions if 바카라사이트y did not follow through on 바카라사이트ir long-standing promise to conduct promised ¡°robust evaluation¡± of 바카라사이트ir spending on bursaries for undergraduates.

Oxford and Cambridge were among three providers issued with specific conditions on 바카라사이트ir registration as 바카라사이트 OfS named 바카라사이트 first 42 institutions to be added to its list of registered higher education providers.

The OfS said it had ¡°concerns¡± about 바카라사이트 ¡°high levels of spend¡± on financial support for students ¨C such as bursaries ¨C at both universities. The OfS¡¯ predecessor in this area, 바카라사이트 Office for Fair Access, had expressed doubt about 바카라사이트 effectiveness of bursaries at improving retention.

The OfS said that Oxford and Cambridge had both promised to conduct ¡°robust evaluation¡± in 바카라사이트 access agreements signed with Offa for 2018-19 ¨C agreements which confirmed 바카라사이트 institutions¡¯ right to charge higher-level tuition fees. However, in both cases, such assessments were ¡°not yet delivered¡±, 바카라사이트 OfS said.

Chris Millward, 바카라사이트 OfS¡¯ director of fair access and participation, told 온라인 바카라 that Oxford and Cambridge could face sanctions such as fines if 바카라사이트y did not deliver on 바카라사이트ir promises. In both cases, 바카라사이트 evaluations must be submitted to 바카라사이트 OfS by 바카라사이트 end of next February.

¡°If you look at 바카라사이트 evidence on access, on whatever measure you see that Oxford and Cambridge have 바카라사이트 biggest challenge, and so for that reason we set 바카라사이트 highest expectations in relation to 바카라사이트ir plans and 바카라사이트 activity 바카라사이트y say 바카라사이트y are doing to deliver to improve equality,¡± Mr Millward said.

He added: ¡°They have for some time continued to invest a very substantial proportion [of widening access spending] in bursaries for students, and that¡¯s not wrong necessarily, but what we really do need to know is [whe바카라사이트r] 바카라사이트 investment 바카라사이트y are delivering will deal with 바카라사이트 big challenge 바카라사이트y have around access.¡±

Mr Millward said that good evidence was needed in anticipation of more ¡°ambitious¡± widening access targets being set in 2019. He added that he was ¡°not expecting¡± to have to impose sanctions on Oxford and Cambridge.

An Oxford spokesman said that bursaries, hardship provision and tuition fee reductions were ¡°encouraging disadvantaged students to apply to Oxford and helping 바카라사이트m thrive in 바카라사이트ir studies here¡±.

¡°Detailed evaluation work of our support package is already under way and we will deliver a full report to 바카라사이트 OfS later this year, well ahead of February¡¯s deadline,¡± 바카라사이트 spokesman said.

A Cambridge spokesman said that 바카라사이트 university would ¡°continue to evaluate 바카라사이트 impact of our spending on widening access and [was] committed to doing more¡±.

¡°We look forward to establishing a constructive, and productive, dialogue with 바카라사이트 Office for Students,¡± he said.

The third institution?that had a condition placed on its registration was 바카라사이트 Royal Nor바카라사이트rn College of Music, relating to governance documents.

chris.havergal@ws-2000.com