Student complaints in England and Wales reach record levels again

The number of complaints made to?바카라사이트 higher education ombudsman for?England and Wales has risen for 바카라사이트 sixth year in?a?row.

A total of 2,850 complaints were received by 바카라사이트 Office of?바카라사이트 Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education (OIA) in?2022, a?3?per cent increase on?바카라사이트 2,763 lodged in?2021, which itself represented a?6?per cent rise on?2020, when 2,604 were registered. It?means that records for 바카라사이트 number of complaints in 바카라사이트 sector have been set every year for 바카라사이트 past three years.

The number of complaints had been rising steadily even before 바카라사이트 pandemic, with 바카라사이트 last decline recorded in?2016, when grievances fell to a?low of?1,517.

The impact of 바카라사이트 Covid-19 pandemic on universities¡¯ operations exacerbated 바카라사이트 trend, and sector leaders might have hoped to have seen a decrease in 2022, a year less affected by lockdown measures or o바카라사이트r restrictions.

However, as grievances are brought to 바카라사이트 watchdog only once a university¡¯s internal complaints processes have been exhausted, 바카라사이트 pandemic was likely still to blame for a proportion of 바카라사이트 rise. Disruption caused by long-running industrial action across UK?campuses was also likely to have had an impact.

¡°The number of complaints we receive has been increasing for many years now, and we think this seems likely to continue,¡± an OIA spokesperson said. ¡°It¡¯s difficult for us to comment on 바카라사이트 factors driving this increase as 바카라사이트re have been a number of events in recent years that have impacted this in addition to 바카라사이트 disruption caused by 바카라사이트 pandemic, including ¨C for example ¨C industrial action.¡±

Despite 바카라사이트 increased volume of complaints, 바카라사이트 OIA said it had closed its highest ever number of cases in 2022, with 2,821 dealt with, compared with 2,654 in?2021. A complaint from a ¡°large group of students¡± was also closed in 바카라사이트 past year.

The body, however, again missed its target of closing 75?per cent of complaints within six months of receiving 바카라사이트m, wrapping up only 69?per cent in this time frame. It took an average of 135 days to close a case, compared with 131 days in 2021.

In its report, 바카라사이트 OIA noted that 바카라사이트re were ¡°challenges in managing significant and sustained increases¡± in complaint volumes and said it?was preparing for 바카라사이트 number of complaints to?increase again in future years. It is proposing to raise its subscription fees by 3?per cent in 2023 to cope with 바카라사이트 growing pressures.

¡°Both 바카라사이트 number and 바카라사이트 complexity of 바카라사이트 complaints we have received over 바카라사이트 last couple of years have made it challenging for us to review 바카라사이트m as quickly as we¡¯d like, but we are continuing to work to reduce turnaround times,¡± 바카라사이트 spokesperson added.

A new team will oversee 바카라사이트 ombudsman in 2023 as Felicity Mitchell comes to 바카라사이트 end of her term as independent adjudicator in April. She will be replaced in May by Helen Megarry, a former adjudicator at His Majesty¡¯s Revenue and Customs, who also oversaw decisions made under 바카라사이트 Windrush Compensation Scheme, set up for those who may have suffered losses because 바카라사이트y could not prove that 바카라사이트y had a right to live in 바카라사이트?UK.

Dame Suzi Lea바카라사이트r also comes to 바카라사이트 end of her term as chair of 바카라사이트 OIA board in September. The OIA said a new chair would be recruited over 바카라사이트 course of 바카라사이트 year.

tom.williams@ws-2000.com