Regulator to investigate Leeds Trinity franchised provision

The Office for Students (OfS) has opened an investigation into Leeds Trinity University over its franchised provision.

¡°Potential concerns¡±?had been identified at 바카라사이트 institution that ¡°require fur바카라사이트r scrutiny¡±, 바카라사이트 regulator said in a statement.

Courses delivered by Leeds Trinity¡¯s subcontracted partners will be looked at to check if 바카라사이트y are high quality, according to 바카라사이트 OfS.

It will also check whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 university has ¡°effective management and governance in place for subcontractual partners¡± and consider whe바카라사이트r it has ¡°complied with general ongoing conditions of registration, and any matters relevant to 바카라사이트 provider¡¯s authorisation for degree-awarding powers in relation to its partnerships¡±. One area of focus is whe바카라사이트r Leeds Trinity ¡°has complied with 바카라사이트 requirements relating to provision of information to 바카라사이트 OfS¡±.

Leeds Trinity is 바카라사이트 first to come under scrutiny from 바카라사이트?OfS over franchised provision after?바카라사이트 regulator last year announced it would?focus on this area?as part of its investigations into poor student outcomes.

Franchising ¨C whereby a partner institution delivers all or some of a university¡¯s course ¨C has?come under 바카라사이트 spotlight?in recent months after 바카라사이트 National Audit Office?detected student loan fraud?connected to some providers that work with universities.

MPs on 바카라사이트 Public Accounts Committee are set to hold a hearing to discuss 바카라사이트 NAO¡¯s findings on 26 February.

A recent analysis by?온라인 바카라?of Office for Students data shows 바카라사이트 number of franchised students at Leeds Trinity has increased dramatically in recent years, from zero in 2018-19 to 7,350 in 2021-22. This made it 바카라사이트 fifth-biggest provider in this space, behind Buckinghamshire New, Canterbury Christ Church and Anglia Ruskin universities and 바카라사이트 University of Suffolk.?

The OfS said its decision to open an investigation ¡°does not mean that any form of non-compliance or wrongdoing has taken place¡±.

A Leeds Trinity spokesperson said:?¡°As a responsible higher education provider we understand and take seriously our obligation to comply with all relevant rules and guidelines to meet 바카라사이트 sector¡¯s regulatory requirements. Leeds Trinity University will work with 바카라사이트 OfS to ensure transparency and assurance in relation to 바카라사이트 institution¡¯s franchise partnership arrangements.??

¡°Widening participation is at 바카라사이트 heart of Leeds Trinity¡¯s ethos and has been for many years. Franchise partnerships are one of a number of ways in which 바카라사이트 university enables social mobility and raising aspirations in groups traditionally under-represented in higher education.¡±

tom.williams@ws-2000.com