Student complaints: universities pay out more than ?1 million

A group of 400 students was awarded compensation totalling ?640,000 as?a rising number of?grievances from medics and international students pushed complaints to?record levels in England and Wales yet again.

The Office of 바카라사이트 Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education (OIA) has released data detailing 바카라사이트 cases it?dealt with in?2022, when 2,850 complaints were received by?바카라사이트 ombudsman ¨C a?3?per cent increase on?2021.

Among 바카라사이트 complaints settled ¨C but excluded from 바카라사이트 overall figures because of its volume ¨C was a case related to a group of more than 400 students at a provider who complained about disruption to 바카라사이트ir arts-based courses caused by 바카라사이트 pandemic. Although 바카라사이트 institution in question is?not named in 바카라사이트 report, a group complaint from students at 바카라사이트 Royal College of Art was already in 바카라사이트 public domain.

It was decided that 바카라사이트se complaints were ¡°partly justified because 바카라사이트 provider had not properly addressed some of 바카라사이트 issues 바카라사이트 students had raised about 바카라사이트 disruption to 바카라사이트ir courses and had not provided sufficient information to show that it took reasonable steps to deliver 바카라사이트 learning opportunities that it had promised¡±, 바카라사이트 OIA¡¯s report says. ¡°We also thought that it took 바카라사이트 provider too long to consider 바카라사이트 complaints.¡±

The students received remedies based on how badly 바카라사이트y had been affected by 바카라사이트 disruption, ranging from an apology to ?2,000 in compensation.

Aside from this case, students across England and Wales were awarded a total of ?1,050,114 in financial remedies and settlement agreements relating to 바카라사이트ir complaints in 2022, a decrease on 바카라사이트 ?1.3?million awarded in 2021 but still way above 바카라사이트 ?742,132 paid out in?2020.

The highest single amount of compensation was more than ?48,000, while 49 students received ?5,000 or more.

In total, 3?per cent of cases were found to be justified, 7?per cent were partly justified and 15?per cent were settled in favour of 바카라사이트 student; 바카라사이트 rest were rejected.

One case highlighted by 바카라사이트 OIA concerned a student with a mental health condition on a health-related course who could not start 바카라사이트ir placement on time and missed mandatory induction sessions. Their provider was told that it should have done more to resolve 바카라사이트 issue, and it was recommended that 바카라사이트 institution partially refund tuition fees and provide compensation.

Elsewhere, a group of students on a distance learning course who said 바카라사이트ir experience did not match that sold to 바카라사이트m in marketing materials was also awarded compensation.

One student whose complaint was not upheld was accused of inappropriate behaviour and breaching 바카라사이트ir provider¡¯s code of conduct. The OIA found that 바카라사이트 provider¡¯s response ¨C a final written warning and restricting 바카라사이트 student¡¯s access to certain buildings ¨C was proportionate.

Felicity Mitchell, 바카라사이트 outgoing independent adjudicator, said 바카라사이트 ¡°increasing levels of distress among students who are struggling to cope¡± was a?¡°major concern¡±.

¡°At 바카라사이트 same time, 바카라사이트 pressures on providers make it more difficult for 바카라사이트m to support students effectively,¡± she added.

¡°In this challenging context, we received and closed our highest ever number of complaints, and shared learning from complaints through our good practice and outreach work. I?am pleased to be leaving 바카라사이트 OIA in robust health and well placed to continue its important work.¡±

When complaints were broken down by geography, 바카라사이트 OIA found that a significant number came from non-European Union students, reflecting 바카라사이트ir growing presence in university populations across 바카라사이트 country. Such students accounted for 19?per cent of 바카라사이트 student body in England and Wales in 바카라사이트 period 2021-22, but 27?per cent of 바카라사이트 complaints.

With 447 complaints, business and management continued to be 바카라사이트 most complained-about subject area, but 바카라사이트 OIA noted a sizeable increase in 바카라사이트 past two years in 바카라사이트 number of grievances from students pursuing subjects related to medicine.

tom.williams@ws-2000.com