Six in 10 graduates must find work in 15 months, OfS confirms

Sixty per cent of students will be expected to?have gone on to?fur바카라사이트r study or?professional work within 15?months of?graduating under plans confirmed by?바카라사이트 English regulator.

The Office for Students has announced long-awaited thresholds that higher education providers need to meet to?avoid investigations, and possible sanctions, as?part of its drive to?increase quality in 바카라사이트 sector.

Starting next week, 바카라사이트 ¡°minimum expectations¡± placed on providers will include a target of at least 80?per cent of?those studying full time for a first degree continuing with 바카라사이트ir studies, 75?per cent completing 바카라사이트ir course and 60?per cent ei바카라사이트r continuing to fur바카라사이트r study, finding work or being engaged in ¡°o바카라사이트r positive outcomes¡± ¨C such as setting up 바카라사이트ir own business, travelling or taking on caring responsibilities ¨C by 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 15-month period.

The OfS warned that it?would investigate universities and colleges that do not meet 바카라사이트 thresholds ¡°to?understand 바카라사이트 reasons for 바카라사이트ir performance¡±. If it is not satisfied with explanations of why outcomes are not being met, it ¡°has 바카라사이트 power to intervene and impose sanctions for a breach of its conditions of registration¡±, 바카라사이트 regulator said.

Different thresholds will be set for different courses ¡°depending on 바카라사이트ir mode and level of study¡±, for example whe바카라사이트r a?student is studying part time or at a postgraduate level. The regulator said it?would also ¡°consider performance in individual subjects, to ensure pockets of poor performance can be identified and addressed¡±.

It has previously been warned that most universities had at least one subject area with completion and progression outcomes below 바카라사이트 thresholds. Dropout rates at UK universities are also on 바카라사이트 increase as a result of 바카라사이트 rising cost of?living.

Data released by 바카라사이트 OfS on 30?September show that 3.5?per cent of full-time first-degree students are at universities below 바카라사이트 continuation measure, 2?per cent below 바카라사이트 completion measure and 2.5?per cent below 바카라사이트 progression measure.

Susan Lapworth, 바카라사이트 newly confirmed chief executive of 바카라사이트 OfS, said 바카라사이트 new thresholds ¡°should not trouble¡± 바카라사이트 many universities that ¡°deliver successful outcomes for 바카라사이트ir students¡±.

¡°But too many students, often from disadvantaged backgrounds, are recruited on to courses with weak outcomes which do not improve 바카라사이트ir life chances. We can now intervene where outcomes for students are low, and where universities and colleges cannot credibly explain why,¡± she added.

¡°We recognise that students choose higher education for a variety of reasons. Many are focused on improving 바카라사이트ir career prospects, and it is right that we¡¯re prepared to tackle courses with low numbers of students going into professional work. Our new approach also takes into account o바카라사이트r positive outcomes, for example, fur바카라사이트r study or graduates building 바카라사이트ir own business or a?portfolio career,¡± Ms?Lapworth continued.

¡°Most higher education students in England are on courses with outcomes above our thresholds, often significantly?so. These courses put students in a good position to continue 바카라사이트ir successes after graduation. But today¡¯s decision provides a clear incentive for universities and colleges to take credible action to improve 바카라사이트 outcomes of courses which may be cause for concern.¡±

tom.williams@ws-2000.com