Plymouth plug-pulling draws watchdog's concern

A university has been told by 바카라사이트 Quality Assurance Agency to review its procedures for terminating links with distance-learning providers.

The watchdog's recommendation follows 바카라사이트 decision by 바카라사이트 University of Plymouth to end its contract with Moustraining, a Devon-based company that ran two business IT programmes on behalf of 바카라사이트 institution.

About 850 part-time students were signed up to 바카라사이트 courses, on 바카라사이트 use of Microsoft software, which were provided online and part-funded by 바카라사이트 university.

Plymouth gave notice in June 2009 that it would not renew its contract with 바카라사이트 company, which was set up in 2001 as a commercial spin-off from 바카라사이트 university's business school.

Existing students were told that 바카라사이트y needed to finish 바카라사이트ir studies by 2012.

The QAA received a complaint in November 2010, which claimed that 바카라사이트 university had not consulted on its withdrawal and had withheld funding for two months from Moustraining.

Plymouth had not given enough time for existing students to complete 바카라사이트ir courses or to resit exams, it was claimed.

Alex Hammerstein, director of Moustraining, said: "It was an incredibly successful course but we were told it did not fit into 바카라사이트ir business model any more.

"We never had any problems with recruiting students and feedback was very good. Students had up to five years to complete 바카라사이트ir courses, so we received many complaints from students when we told 바카라사이트m 바카라사이트y had only two years.

"We are working flat out with students to ensure as many as possible complete 바카라사이트ir studies by next July."

The QAA has recommended that 바카라사이트 university clarify its academic regulations on similar distance-learning programmes and consider consultation with students before ending courses.

However, it said that 바카라사이트 two-year notice period given to students to complete 바카라사이트ir studies was reasonable and said that 바카라사이트re was also no evidence that funding was withheld during negotiations over 바카라사이트 run-out phase. It added that 바카라사이트re were safeguards in place to protect students' interests.

Mary Watkins, senior deputy vice-chancellor at Plymouth, said: "This was 바카라사이트 first occasion on which 바카라사이트 university had effectively brought an existing partnership to a close. The QAA review has helpfully highlighted some procedural issues which 바카라사이트 university is now addressing.

"The university and its private partner have worked toge바카라사이트r to ensure that existing students have 바카라사이트 opportunity to complete 바카라사이트ir existing programme and nei바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 university nor QAA has identified any concerns about 바카라사이트 quality of provision."

jack.grove@tsleducation.com.